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SPEE CHE S 



PELIVERED 



ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, 
GEORGE G:"COOKMAN, 

OP THE 
BALTIMORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 

AND 

CHAPLAIN TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



NEW-YORK; 
PUBLISHED BY G. LANE & C. B. TIPPETT, 

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-STREET 

JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER, 

1847. 



vA 






Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1840, by 
Georse Lane, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
the Southern District of New-York 
Gift 
Kent i^v^r BooK OO^ 
Jan. 22. I9d7. 



DEDICATION, 



TO 

THE PRESIDENT, FACULTY, AND STL DENTS 

OP DICKINSON COLLEGE, 

CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA, 

ENDEARED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF 

PASTORAL RELATIONS 

AND PERSONAL FRIENDSHIPS, 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATEE. 
Alexandria, D. C, Uth May, 1840. 



COOKMAN'S SPEECHES. 



EDITORIAL NOTICE. 

This little work is most earnestly commended 
to the attention of the Christian public gene- 
rally, as being calculated not only to impart use- 
ful instruction, but to diffuse the spirit of bene- 
volence ; and especially to awaken public inter- 
est in behalf of our great benevolent institutions. 
In these speeches will be found a sprightliness 
and vigour, with a novelty of expression, and an 
exuberance of figurative illustrations, almost pe- 
culiar to the author, and which impart the highest 
interest to his platform productions. 

We have read these speeches with great 
pleasure, and, we hope, some profit, and have 
found nothing in relation to which we judge it 
necessary to guard the reader, unless we make 
an exception of several statements made in the 
last address. The author says, " Methodism, 
so called, is not a sect," p. 128. " Methodism 
is not a form," p. 129. " Methodism is not an 
opinion," p. 131. Though these statements are 
justified by the declarations of Mr. Wesley, and 



IJOOKMAN S SPEECHES. 



are undoubtedly true of " Methodism" before it 
assumed a distinct church organization, yet at 
this time they can only hold good in a very quali- 
fied sense, in relation either to the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in the United States, or the Wes- 
leyan connection in England. For though Me- 
thodism is not sectariaii, ox formal, or theoretical, 
in any bad sense of these terms, it still must be 
admitted that the Methodists are as really and 
truly a Christian sect, B,nd as certainly haveybnw/- 
las, and as clearly have a set of doctrinal opinions, 
as any other Christian communion in the world. 
Our object in this notice is, so to qualify the 
statements alluded to, that they may not lead 
the reader into error, and by no means to de- 
tract from the value of the able and interesting 
speech in which they are found. We hope 
these excellent speeches may, in many cases, 
take the place of the light reading, which often 
has far less literary merit than they may justly 
claim, and never any of the sanctifying fire which 
gives them character. 

Editor. 



THE 

REV. G. G COOKMAN'S SPEECHES. 



SUBSTANCE OF A SPEECH 

Delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Young 
MerCs Bible Society of New-Brunswick^ New", 
Jersey, on Monday evening, Nov. 17, 1828. 

I FEEL myself happy, respected chairman^ 
in expressing my concurrence in the recorded 
sentiments of your report, and in improving 
this public opportunity by advocating the 
noblest cause on the face of the earth. 

Time was when for a Presbyterian minis- 
ter and a Methodist preacher to appear as 
joint advocates in the same common causej 
would have been a crying wonder, a marvel- 
lous astonishment ; but sir, thank God ! the 
age of sectarian bigotry is passing away — - 
Ephraim is ceasing to vex Judah, and Judah 
Ephraim, and to employ the eloquent lan- 
guage of an Indian chief, " Let us combine to 



6 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

brighten the chain that binds our nations 
together." 

I am aware, sir, that from the fact of that 
diversity of rehgious opinion which has ex- 
isted among Protestant Christians the infidel 
has drawn a fruitful source of cavil. I am 
aware that, high seated in the chair of the 
scorner, he has looked down upon the polemic 
strife with an air of sovereign self sufficiency, 
and pointing with the finger of contempt, he 
has said, " See how these Christians love one 
another." 

I am well aware, also, that many well dis- 
posed persons have imagined that the surest 
method of silencing infidehty w^ould be for 
the Christian church to effect a union in doc- 
trine, to lay aside their peculiarities of reli- 
gious opinion, and amalgamate into one uni- 
form mass of sentiment and action. 

Against such principles of Christian union 
you must permit me, sir, this night, as an in- 
dividual, to enter my decided protest. Such 
union, at present, I should consider illegiti- 
mate and unscriptural — calculated to defeat 
the purposes for which it was intended : in a 
word, to promote the spirit of infidelity, and 
injure the cause of vi^l godliness. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN, 7 

I grant, sir, (and rejoice in the concessionj) 
that on one ground we may all agree with- 
out respect or qualification — I mean in the 
universal circulation of the Holy Scriptures. 
^' The Bible/' says Chillingworth; "is the reli- 
gion of Protestants ;" and it is the positive 
duty of all Protestant Christians to unite in 
its distribution without respect to sect or 
party. I am not strenuous about the persons 
or the mode. Let the Lord send by whom he 
will send — only let the word of the Lord run 
"over land and over sea," and be glorified 
" from the rivers to the ends of the earth." 
Butj sir, notwithstanding this concession, I 
hold fast to the original assertion, that all 
union which involves any surrender of con- 
scientious views of religious truth would be 
pernicious and promotive of the spirit of infi- 
delity. 

And, sir, on what ground is this assertion 
maintained ? Why, that truth, being in its 
own nature unique, simple, and indivisible, 
holds no communion whatever with the 
changeling and contradictious varieties of 
human error, and therefore, in the present 
defective state of the human understanding, 
and the present defective state of the human 



8 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

heart, it is safer that the Christian church 
should be divided into parties^ conscientiously 
differing in, but zealously maintaining points 
of doctrine and practice. For whatever de- 
lightful changes the millennial day may ehcit, 
of this I am certain, that in the present de- 
generate condition of the world, the existing 
order of things is more favourable to the dis- 
cussion and development of truth, the detec- 
tion of error, and a friendly provocation to 
love and good works among the various 
bodies of professing Christians than any such 
union. 

On this subject we may observe a striking 
analogy between the operations of the natu- 
ral and moral world ; for as in the former, 
order and equipoise are only maintained by 
the action and reaction of opposing forces ; 
so in the latter, discussion rubs off the rust of 
prejudice, and leads to truth. 

Sir, I maintain the old maxim, " Let every 
man attend to his own business, and the 
nation will take care of itself" And as in 
the science of political economy, so in the 
Christian church, the division of labour pre- 
serves good order, and promotes general pros- 
perity. 



BY THE REV. G. G, COOKMAN. 9 

Permit me to offer an illustration of the 
principle. Let us suppose, sir, that you are 
an honest Presbyterian, and that I am an 
honest Methodist— that is to say, we each 
conscientiously believe our own principles to 
be right. Let us suppose that we are en- 
gaged in a friendly debate as to the respective 
merits of our peculiar doctrines. An infidel 
standing by cries out, -^ Gentlemen, you are 
both wrong." Well, sir, what is to be done? 
A fourth person interferes as mediator be- 
tween the parties. "Brethren," says he, 
" the scruples of the gentleman standing by 
arise from your contradictory views of divine 
truth. Now make a union ; lay aside your 
sectarian peculiarities ; be Kberal ; and think 
and speak ahke." Suppose, sir, we agree. 
Is the infidel convinced? What says he 
now ? " Gentlemen, I am now doubly con- 
vinced you are both wrong, and I charge you 
both with a want of principle and courage in 
not maintaining and defending what you 
believed to be the truth." 

What, then, is the amount of the argu- 
ment? We say, let each sect and party 
maintain its own distinctive position, and 
pursue its own plans of operation, in its own 



10 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

waj^, to the very uttermost. Let us agree to 
differ. We are none of us infallible. It is 
possible we may all be a little wrong, for it is 
as natural for man to err as to breathe. But 
how are we to set each other right ? By the 
silent quiescent neutralityof a nominal union? 
Nay, sir, in such a motionless reservoir the 
waters of life would stagnate. Let them 
rather run and encounter the winds of oppo- 
sition and the rocks of controversy, and they 
will clear, and purify, and sparkle. Truth 
never did nor ever will lose any of its power by 
open and liberal discussion, even on religious 
points. Give it open field and fair play, and 
it shall overthrow the empire of infidelity, 
and conquer this world of sin. 

Let then the Bible be the rallying point of 
Protestant Christians. Let them dispute for 
truth, not victory ; let the God of peace pre- 
side in every controversy ; yet let all be con- 
ducted in the unity of the spirit and in the 
bond of peace. Let each go -to his post of 
duty, and without interfering or quarrelling 
with his neighbour, do his uttermost uiider 
his own particular standard ; let there be^'no 
strife, for we are all brethren, and the world : 
is large enough for us all. 



g3i^?Y THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 11 

The union, then, which I would propose 
would-be a union in spirit, rather than a 
union in doctrine ; let each party of Protest- 
ant Christians make its own distinctive effort 
in its own way, rather than in a promiscuous 
union of the general mass. For, sir, depend 
upon it, David will not fight in Saul's ar- 
mour, and we can no more make men act 
precisely alike than we can force them to 
think precisely aUke. Will you allow me, 
sir, another illustration in confirmation of 
these views of Christian union ? When we 
look abroad upon the signs of the times, I 
think we shall see the religious as well as the 
political world on the eve of convulsion and 
conflict. Thank God, the Christian world 
have heard the trumpet of alarm : they are 
mustering for the battle, and by one simulta- 
neous effort they are coming up to the help 
of the Lord against the mighty ; and never, 
since the days of the apostles, was there so 
general a movement as at the present crisis. 
The leaven of divine truth is powerfully op- 
erative through the varied enginery of Bible, 
missionary, tract, and sabbath school societies. 
There is a shaking among the kingdoms, 
and the world feels the earthquake shock. 



12 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Nor J sir, are the principalities and powers of 
darkness asleep — they have taken the alarm. 
Infidelity and antichrist have sounded the 
trumpet through all their hosts, and never 
since the days of the French revolution has 
there been so much activity and determina- 
tion among the enemies of the cross as at 
this present moment. 

I believe, sir, we are on the eve of a gene- 
ral engagem^ent. Now, sir, borrowing the 
allusion, will you permit me to marshal the 
Christian army on those principles of union I 
have endeavoured to sustain? Let, then, 
our Bible societies, with their auxiUaries, be 
a line of forts established along the ene- 
my's frontier as bulwarks of defence. Let 
them be military magazines well stored with 
spiritual weapons and gospel ammunition, 
general rallying points for the whole army, 
and strong-holds from whence our missionary 
riflemen may sally forth on the enemy. Let 
our sabbath schools be military academies, 
in which the young cadets may be trained 
for the battles of the Lord. Let the tract 
societies be as so many shot houses for the 
manufacture of that small but useful mate- 
rial. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 13 

Having thus, sir, disposed of the outworks, 
let us endeavour to arrange the army. 

Suppose, sir, for example, we begin with 
the Methodists ; and as they are said to be 
tolerable pioneers and excellent foragers in 
new countries, and active withal, I propose 
that we mount them on horseback, and em- 
ploy them as cavalry, especially on the fron- 
tiers. 

And as our Presbyterian brethren love an 
open field, and act in concert, and move in 
solid bodies, let them constitute our infantry ; 
let them occupy the centre in solid columns, 
and fight according to Napoleon's tactics, in 
military squares, ever presenting a firm front 
to the enemy. Our Baptist brethren we will 
station along the rivers and lakes, which, we 
doubt not, they will gallantly defend, and 
win many laurels in the lake warfare. Our 
brethren of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
shall man the garrisons, inspect the maga- 
zines, and direct the batteries. 

But, sir, we want artillery men. Whom 
shall we employ? The light field pieces 
and the heavy ordnance must be served. I 
propose, sir, that we commit this very import- 
ant department to our brethren of the Dutch 



14 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Reformed Church : and. sir. may they acquit 
themselves with a valour worthy their ances- 
tors, when the proud flag of De Witt swept 
the sea; and the thunder of Tan Tromp shook 
the ocean. And now. sir, the army is ar- 
ranged. We have one great Captain, the 
Lord Jesus Christ, whose orders we are all 
bound to obey. Our standard is the cross, 
and onward is the watchword. Let us give 
no quarter : we fight for death or victory. 

At the same time let us preserve our origi- 
nal order. United in spiiit and design, let us 
be distinct in movement. Let not the ca- 
valry, infantry, and artillery men mingle in 
one indiscriminate mass. Let each keep his 
proper position, adopt his pecuUar uniform, 
act under his local colours, and fight in his 
own pecuhar manner. Thus we shall act 
with consistency and vigour, without discom- 
posing each other, or disordering the ranks. 

Let a strict religious discipline prevail 
throughout the camp, for we must not suffer 
that shameful reproach, that we recommend 
to others what we practise not ourselves. 
Accordingly, let us, Uke the soldiers of Oliver 
Cromwell, read our Bible and pray twice a 
dav in each of the tents. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 15 

And now, sir, let us to the field of action. 
May the God of battles give the victory, and 
the trembling gates of hell shake to their 
centre ! 

Sir, it was at the close of one of the most 
sanguinary conflicts of modern times, that a 
celebrated military chieftain, from his point 
of observation, saw with deepest anxiety the 
shattered remains of his noble army ready 
to sink under the protracted fatigue of a three 
days' fight. At this eventful crisis he sum- 
mons around him his council of officers. 
" Gentlemen," says he, « these brave fellows 
can hold out no longer." PuHing out his 
watch, "Gentlemen, it now wants fifteen 
minutes of six o'clock. If the Prussians do 
not arrive before six, I must sound a retreat. 
Gentlemen, to your positions." He stood— 
he looked at his watch—he looked to the 
field— he looked upward to heaven, and im- 
plored help from the great Arbiter of battles. 
It was an awful moment. Minute succeeded 
to minute. His hard-earned laurels, the 
honour of his country, the destinies of Eu- 
rope, hung trembling in the balance. At 
length the cry bursts on his listening ear, 
"The Prussians are coming!" He starts 



16 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

from his knees, be flings away his watch, he 
cries, •' All's well — the day is ours." Sir, let 
us keep the field, maintain our position, do 
our duty, and all will be well— the day shall 
be ours. Before I sit down I have a duty to 
perform to that portion of the army here 
assembled. I have to forewarn them that 
there is lurking in different sections of our 
camp a dangerous and mahgnant spy. I 
will endeavour to describe this diabohcal spy 
as well as I can. He is remarkably old, 
having grown gray in iniquity. He is 
toothless and crooked, and altogether of a 
very unsavoury countenance. His name, 
sir, is Bigotry. He seldom travels in day- 
light, but in the evening shades he steals 
forth from his haunts of retirement, and 
creeps into the tents of the soldiers: and 
with a tongue as smooth and deceptions as 
the serpent who deceived our first mother, he 
endeavours ^* to sow arrows^ firebrands, and 
death" in the camp. His poHcy is to per- 
suade the soldiers in garrison to despise those 
in open field : and again, those in open field 
to despise those in garrison ; to incite the ca- 
valry against the infantry, and the infantry 
against the cavalry. And in so doing he 



BY THE EEV. G. G. COOKMAN. 17 

makes no scruple to employ misrepresenta- 
tion, slander, and falsehood— for, like his 
father, he is a Har from the beginning. Now 
sir, I trust the army will be on the alert in 
detecting this old scoundrel, and making a 
pubhc example of him. I hope if the Meth- 
odist cavahy catch him on the frontiers, tliey 
will ride him down, and put him to the sword 
without delay. I trust the Presbyterian in- 
fantry will receive him on the point of the 
bayonet; and should the Baptists find him 
skulking along the banks of the rivers, I 
trust they will fairly drown him ; and should 
he dare to approach any of our garrisons, I 
hope the Episcopalians will open upon him a 
double-flanked battery ; and the Dutch Re- 
formed greet him with a whole round of 
artillery. 

Let him die the death of a spy, without 
military honours; and after he has been gib- 
lieted for a convenient season, let his body 
be given to the Quakers, and let them bury 
him deep and in silence. May God grant 
his miserable ghost may never revisit this 
world of trouble ! 

And as allusion has been made to the so- 
ciety of Friends, permit me, in conclusion, to 



18 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

relate an anecdote, connected with a highly 
repectable member of that body of professing 
Christians, which illustrates all that I have 
endeavoured to maintain. 

A gentleman employed in raising funds 
toward the erection of a new Episcopal 
church, waited upon a member of the society 
of Friends, of known philanthropy and libe- 
rality. Having stated his object, and pre- 
sented his subscription paper, the Friend, 
after a pause, very gravely said, "Friend, 
thee knows we cannot consistently with the 
sentiments of Friends help to build thy 
steeple houses." The gentleman politely ex- 
pressed his regret, and was about to with- 
draw, when the Quaker recalled him by 
saying, " Friend, let me see thy paper again 
— doth it not state that there is an old steeple 
house to be pulled down?" The gentleman 
answered in the affirmative. " Ah !" says 
our Friend, "then I have it: here, I give 
thee twenty pounds ; but observe — you care- 
fully mark, I give this not to build the new 
steeple house up — no, no ; but to pull the old 
steeple house down." 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 19 



SUBSTANCE OF A SPEECH 

Delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Bal- 
timore Conference Missionary Society, City of 
Baltimore, Monday evening, March 23, 1829 — 
and repeated, by request, at the Anniversary 
of the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in the City of New-York, 
May 4. 

I CONGRATULATE you, sir, Oil the elevated 
position you sustain as tiie president of this 
Christian meeting ; and I congratulate this 
assembly on the interesting and animating 
occasion v^hich brings them together. There 
is, sir, about a missionary meeting a spirit- 
stirring atmosphere, a sacred sympathy better 
felt than expressed. It is here that we pecu- 
liarly recognize the solemnizing presence of 
the great Head of the church, and it is here 
we catch the kindling charities of the gospel 
Missionary ground is high and holy ground 
— we stand exalted above our sectional and 
national feelings — and as our eye ranges 
over the boundless and comprehensive pros- 
pect of all the families of all the earth — as 
we mark the advancing march of gospel 
truth; and the victories of our Redeemer's 



30 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

crossj our souls spread abroad with spiritual 
enlargementj and catch a spark of that se- 
raphic fire which touched the prophet's lips, 
and burns on heaven's high altar. 

There was a period within your recollec- 
tion, sir, when it was necessary, in the very 
teeth of opposition, to advocate the cause of 
missions by force of reason and dint of argu- 
ment. Skepticism pronounced it a doubtful 
scheme, and infidelity pronounced it a mad 
scheme, and the wise men of this world pro- 
nounced it a fooUsh scheme ; but, sir, glory 
to the God of missions ! he took the matter 
into his own hand, and triumphantly proved 
that "the foolishness of God is wiser than 
men, and the weakness of God is stronger 
than men !" and while some, with Jewish 
unbelief, were stumbling at the difficulties, 
and others, with Grecian pride, were smiling 
at the foolishness of the undertaking, our 
Father and our God was pleased by the 
foolishness of preaching to save even the 
very heathen that believed. And now, sir, 
throughout this babbling earth, from the 
equator to the poles, we have ten thousand 
living epistles of irresistible argument, de- 
monstrating, beyond a doubt, that the cause 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 21 

of missions is the cause of God. The object, 
then, of these anniversaries, is not to argue 
tlie practicability or propriety of the thing 
itself — this, we reiterate, is already abun- 
dantly estabhshed — but to rouse into full and 
vigorous activity, by the application of pow- 
erful and legitimate motives, the energies of 
the Christian church in the advancement of 
this grand and heaven-born design. The 
spirit of Christianity is essentially a mission- 
ary spirit. They are identified as one. You 
cannot separate them. Together they stand 
or fall. They are based on the broad founda- 
tion of an infinite benevolence; and they 
stretch abroad their sympathies to the wants 
and miseries of a universal world. The eter- 
nal Father loved nothing less than the world, 
and gave his Son for nothing less ; and as 
he sends the sun to shine upon the evil and 
the good, so the out-beamings of his grace 
are essentially free. 

The illustrious Founder of our holy religion, 
himself a missionary, and the prince and the 
pattern of missionaries, established a mis- 
sionary system. He was not the mere head 
of a sect ; but the great Head of that univer- 
sal church which, standing on the rock, 



22 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

defies the gates of hell. He broke down the 
middle wall of partition — he constituted this 
earth his magnificent temple, and in the 
evening of the world sent forth the general 
invitation to all the tribes of men to come 
and worship in his courts. This last glori- 
ous dispensation was ushered in by the songs 
of angels, as '^ glad tidings of great joy tc 
all people ;" and the ^- great effectual door" 
was opened on the day of pentecost, amid the 
rushing wind and the descending fire, with 
the missionary commission, " Go ye into all 
the world and preach the gospel to every 
creature." 

And, sir, what were the old apostles, but 
heads of a missionary college ? Themselves 
graduates vmder Jesus Christ, the great 
teacher of the church. Heaven taught, 
heaven inspired men ! They were linguists 
without a lexicon, and preachers without a 
book. They had "the thoughts that breathe, 
and the words that burn." These were mis- 
sionaries of the right stamp. Men full of the 
Holy Ghost. Hearts of flesh — decision of 
steel — souls of fire. Emancipated by the 
Lord, the spirit of liberty, they rose above the 
nan'owness of national prejudice, and became 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 23 

citizens of the world. They knew no man 
after the flesh — ^they belonged to no nation — 
they carried a message of mercy to every 
nation. There was Peter in his fisher's 
coat, and Paul the tent maker, and Matthew 
the publican ; and they proclaimed, as they 
went, salvation free as the air you breathe, in 
the name of Christ the Lord. And the 
priests raged ; and philosophy sneered ; and 
royalty frowned ; and the beasts of the peo- 
ple scourged, and pelted, and hooted; but, 
sir, in the name of the God of missionaries, 
they went steadily on — and, sir, what was 
the result ? Why, sir, the gospel was preached 
to all the world. The platform of Jewish 
ceremonies sunk beneath the simple doctrines 
of Jesus ; the Gentile nations flocked to the 
standard of Immanuel. The proud citadel 
of pagan mythology, stripped of its delusive 
grandeur, stood exposed a gloomy sepulchre, 
full of dead men's bones. Philosophy was 
conquered without argument ; the gospel was 
preached in the very palaces of Rome ; and 
eventually the cross of Christ was planted 
triumphantly on the throne of the Cesars. 

And now, sir, that 1800 years have rolled 
away, I ask, Has the cause of missions lost 



24 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

any of its commanding and authoritative 
character? Is it not, like its Divine Author, 
the same jesterdajj to-day, and for ever? 
Where will the opposer of missions set his 
foot? Will he dare to say that the un- 
changeable love of the eternal Father is in 
any degree abated? Or that the great 
Prophet of the church has altered his pur- 
pose? Will he sa.y that the gospel commis- 
sion has run out, or that the moral state of 
the heathen is better, or the obligations of the 
Christian church less? O, tell it not in 
Gath, repeat it not in the streets of Askelon ! 
We have been too lukewarm, too supine : it 
is high time to awake out of sleep. What ! 
shall we need urging, with the high example 
of a missionary Saviour, and twelve mission- 
ary apostles, before our eyes ? What ! with 
such illustrious leaders in the van guard of 
the Christian arni}^, shall we shamefully 
loiter and lag in the rear ? Nay, my breth- 
ren, let us up and be doing; the spirit of 
missions is the soul of the church ; while we 
send the gospel abroad, God will revive the 
work at home. Let us then to the field. In 
this war there is no neutrality. Christ hath 
said, " He that is not for me is against me." 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 25 

"Thou shalt love thy (heathen) neighbour 
as thyself." O, sir, let us beware the curse 
of Meroz for our want of missionary zeal. 
" Curse ye Meroz — curse ye bitterly the in- 
habitants thereof, for they came not up to the 
help of the Lord against the mighty." 

Let us not be misunderstood. We are not 
preferring a bold and sweeping charge against 
the churchesj but rather stirring up their 
pure minds by way of remembrance. It is 
true, indeed, emphatically true, that much 
remains to be done; but, sir, it is equally 
true, that something has been done, and 
more is yet in progress. There has gone 
abroad throughout Protestant Christendom a 
redeeming spirit ; of which this present mis- 
sionary meeting is another triumphant proof; 
a spirit which, in the expansion of its liberal 
designs, contemplates, under the blessing of 
God, nothing less than the evangelization of 
the world. 

The world in which we live has taken a 
wonderful advance in art, science, civiUza- 
tion, and liberty, within the last hundred 
years; nor, sir, has the march of religious 
truth been behind the improvements of the 
age. The word of God, once immured in 



26 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

the recesses of the cloister, has been transla- 
ted into almost all languages, and circulated 
in almost all lands ; while the latent sparks 
of missionary fire have burst the shell of sec- 
tarian peculiarity ; and now, sir, the Protest- 
ant churches are emulously labouring in 
breaking up and cultivating the great field 
of the heathen world. 

While we rejoice in the labours and suc- 
cess of other missionary societies, and wish 
them God-speed in all their honest endea- 
vours, perhaps, sir, we may be permitted, on 
the present occasion, to refer particularly to 
our own. 

We were saying, sir, that the age in which 
we live was distinguished by vmprecedented 
improvements. One astonishing discovery 
has followed upon another, proving how 
amazingly the vast powers of nature may be 
made subservient to the purposes of art ; and 
among these stands pre-eminent the steam- 
boat, the bright production of the creative 
genius of the immortal Fulton. It stands 
the eighth wonder of the world. 

While, sir, I as an individual render up 
my meed of admiration, permit me to say, 
that there is a vessel now afloat which, 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 27 

though less celebrated on the pillar of this 
world's fame, has been productive of more 
real benefit to the best interests of mankind. 
She was built at the Foundry, city of Lon- 
don, under the direction of Messrs. John and 
Charles Wesley. She is constructed on pre- 
cisely the same model, and built of the same 
materials as the old ship which was launched 
in the city of Jerusalem by our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ, immediately after his 
resurrection, and afterward sailed and navi- 
gated by the fishermen of Galilee. She is, 
sir, to all intents and purposes, a missionary 
vessel^ calculated for spiritual discovery and 
Christian colonization. She carries letters of 
marque, a chosen crew of missionary adven- 
turers, and steers by the bright and morning 
Star of Bethlehem. It is true, indeed, for the 
first few years her voyagings were confined 
to the British seas. She alternately visited 
the islands of Ireland, Scotland, Man, Guern- 
sey, Alderney, and Jersey ; in all which, un- 
der the blessing of God, flourishing colonies 
were established. But, sir, the God of heaven 
never intended her for a mere coaster; she 
was destined to circumnavigate the globe. 
Accordingly, sir, at this juncture, the great 



28 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Head of the church raised up a body of men 
of high missionary feeUng — spirits of lofty 
enterprise, hearts of universal charity. Need 
I name an Asbury, a Boardman, a Pihiioor, 
a Whatcoat, and last, not least, a Coke. 
These men, adventurous as Columbus, and 
greedy of souls as ever Spaniards were of 
gold, launched the missionary vessel into the 
great and boundless deep of the Atlantic; 
and, favoured by propitious gales and an ap- 
proving God, reached the shores of this new 
and far-famed world. Here, sir, they boldly 
planted the standard of Methodism. Here 
they found the fields white already to the 
harvest, nor had they long to complain that 
the labourers were few. God gave the word, 
and great was the increase of able and effect- 
ive men in this western vineyard of the Lord. 
The word of the Lord was hke fire among 
dry stubble — it cleared the woods — it ran 
along the banks of our vast rivers — it was 
irresistible — it crossed the northern lakes — it 
penetrated the southern swamps — it defied 
the frosts of Canada — it scaled the cloud- 
capped summits of Alleghany — and now, sir, 
let the pious observer behold the great family 
of Methodism, from New-Orleans in the 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 29 

south to Labrador on the north, sitting be- 
neath their own vine and fig tree — and truly 
may he exclaim, " What hath God wrought!" 
Nor, sir, is this all. The missionaiy spirit 
has done greater things than these. It has 
silenced for ever the futile theories of a self- 
created philosophy, and stopped the mouth of 
an arrogant political expediency. Where is 
now the empty declaimer who affirmed, with 
the solemnity of an oracle, that it was impos- 
sible to humanize the African, or civilize the 
Indian ? Let that man cast his eye under 
the spreading tree of Methodism, and he 
shall see fifty thousand converted Africans 
reposing beneath its refreshing shade, and 
two thousand Indians finding a solace from 
the storm. Yes, sir, while selfish politicians 
have been debating the question of civil right, 
and minute philosophers have been arranging 
the proprieties of colour, your missionaries 
have gone forth, and beheving that God has 
made of one blood all the nations of the earth, 
that all souls are his, and that God is no 
respecter of persons, they have as debtors to 
the Greeks and the barbarians, preached sal- 
vation to all in the name of Jesus ; and, sir, 
with what success ? Why, God has proved 



30 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

that the things impossible to men are possible 
to him. He has proved not only that Afri- 
cans have souls, but souls purchased by the 
blood of Christ : and that the Indian is not 
only a man, but, by the grace of God, a 
gentleman^ and that with the Bible in one 
hand, and the axe in the other, he can exhi- 
bit a specimen of civilized industry which 
might put philosophers themselves to the 
blush, and triumphantly prove his claim to 
the rights of man and of citizenship, to the 
everlasting confusion of narrow and tempo- 
rizing politicians. 

But, sir, we are digressing. We must re- 
turn to the missionary ship, and, if you please, 
embark for Europe. Mr. Wesley, finding 
that the Lord was opening up missionary 
ground in distant lands, and being himself 
detained at home, by the weight of his socie- 
ties, appointed Dr. Thomas Coke admiral of 
the ship, with a commission for foreign ser- 
vice. And truly we may say the office was 
made for the man, and the man for the office. 
He was a Welch man by birth, and a cosmo- 
polite in feeling. I saw the admiral when I 
was a boy, and hope never to forget him. 
He was, like Zaccheus, a man of small 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 31 

Stature ; butj sir, there was a great soul in a 
little body. O who can forget the honest 
enthusiasm which glowed in his animated 
countenance, or the kindhng glance of his 
benevolent eye ! He was the apostle — -he 
was the martyr of Methodist missions. For 
them he was willing to suffer the loss of all 
things. In this spiritual a.dventure he risked 
his life, his purse, his reputation, his all. He 
stopped at no difficulty, and though on some 
occasions his vessel (as it respects money 
matters) was in the shallows, yet she never 
Gtruck the ground. In the prosecuion of 
duty he feared no danger. His favourite 
motto was, ^-I am immortal till my work is 
done." Appointed by the father of Method- 
ism to this missionary command, h^ entered 
upon his office with humble boldness and 
generous enthusiasm. He hoisted the broad 
flag of free grace at his mast head, and, 
spreading his w^hite canvass to the w;nds of 
Iieaven, steered for America. And although 
tremendous storms drove his vessel out 
of her intended course dov/n to the West 
India Islands, yet here we have to acknow- 
ledge the finger of God bringing real good 
out of seeming evil. For from that apparent 



32 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

accident sprung one of the most extensive, 
productive, and benevolent of modern mis- 
sions, which has eventuated in the salvation 
of thousands of the African race. It would 
be endless to follow the admiral through all 
the cruising activity of his missionary life. 
SufBce it to say. that he lived as he died, and 
died as he lived — a man full of faith and tlie 
Holy Ghost. The ocean was his sepulchre, 
but he being dead yet speaketh. Yet when 
he died the enemies of missions began to tri- 
umph. " We shall hear no more of Meth- 
odist missions," said they. " No doubt the 
enthusiastic old man and his mad schemes 
have failed together." But, sir, these self-made 
prophets proved themselves false prophets, for 
when our Elijah ascended to glory there were 
many Elishas to catch the descending mantle 
of his charity. The admiral was dead ; but, 
sir, the good missionary ship floated her tri- 
umphant course over the main, and waved 
her joyous banner to the nations. She dou- 
bled the Cape of Good Hope, and landed a 
band of spiritual warriors on the East India 
shores. Thence standing for New South 
Wales and the Sandwich Islands, she 
stretched across to Madagascar, touching at 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 33 

South and Western Africa, in all which 
places she established Christian colonies. 
Nay, sir, she has sailed under the batteries of 
Copenhagen up the stormy Baltic, and esta- 
blished a Methodist mission in the very fast- 
nesses of Sweden. She has passed under 
the guns of Gibraltar, landing her missionary 
warriors on that impregnable fortress ; and, 
finally, she has traversed those seas, and 
planted colonies on the very ground once trod 
by the feet of the holy apostles. 

But, sir, you are ready to think we are 
sailing out of all longitude and latitude. We 
shall, therefore, with your permission, bring 
our missionary vessel home to port, with one 
observation, namely, Is she to remain in port? 
Is she to be laid up as a dismantled hulk — a 
melancholy memorial of w^hat our fathers 
were able to begin, and we are unwilling to 
finish? 

Methinks I hear some cautious calculator 
hint, ^-Charity begins at home." Granted, 
my brother ; but remember, charity must not 
remain at home. When the pressing wants 
of home are tolerably supplied, let her go 
forth, Hke Noah's dove, on an errand of mercy 
to the four quarters of the globe. Such is 



34 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

the spirit of the missionary commissionj and 
such was the practice of the missionary apos- 
tles. We are ready to admit that these 
United States have presented and do present 
a vast and comprehensive field for the inces- 
sant labours of our active itinerancy. We are 
ready to admit that the Indian tribes make 
a loud and pressing appeal for renewed and 
increasing exertion, and may God prosper 
that noble mission ! but, sir, we are not ready 
to admit that this missionary effort bears any 
adequate proportion to the resources and re- 
sponsibility of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Granting, as we do, that much has been ac- 
complished at home with very small means, 
is that any reason why something might not 
be accomplished abroad with greater ? What, 
sir, surrounded as we are by the spirit-stirring 
activity of the age, are we to sit still at home 
and let other men take our missionary crown? 
For ever perish the thought. Sir, I this 
night propose that we forthwith put the mis- 
sionary vessel to sea under the care of Ame- 
rican pilots ; and, sir, let her first voyage be 
eastward. 

There is on the western coast of Africa an 
American, and, I thank God, we may add, a 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 35 

Christian colony^ which, under the blessing 
of Heaven, promises to be a focus for the evan- 
gelization and civilization of that benighted 
continent. The freemen of Liberia are stand- 
ing on those shores, and uttering the Mace- 
donian cry, " Come over and help us." That 
colony is precious to the heart of the philan- 
thropist — it stands the altar of a national 
atonement, and an imperishable monument 
of a nation's benevolence. And, sir, while 
the moral feehng of this republic is promoting 
its temporal interests, while the north is giv- 
ing up and the south keeping not back, shall 
the Methodists of these United States be 
backward in answering the will of those 
gifted and qualified men who are crying, 
"Here am I; send me?" Sir, nothing is 
wanting but the means, and I am persuaded 
the means will not be wanting. And, sir, 
are the South American republics to be for- 
gotten ? Do these present no claim upon our 
benevolence? Among the millions of this 
extensive continent is there no field for mis- 
sionary labour ? If these United States have 
given them the bright model of a civil con- 
stitution, shall they withhold the brighter 
boon of religious liberty and Christian know- 



36 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

ledge ? It is high time something should be 
done. Let our missionary vessel stretch 
along the coasts of South America. Let her 
touch at the Havana, at Rio Janeiro, at Bue- 
nos Ayres, and leave her missionaries at all 
these places ; — let her double Cape Horn, and 
coast along the shores of the Pacific. Yea, 
sir, let her never drop her anchor until she 
complete the circumnavigation of this trans- 
atlantic world. 

But, sir, before we hoist our sails we are 
arrested by a very abrupt consideration — the 
means. Who shall pay the freight of the 
vessel ? We have the men, but, sir, we want 
the money, for it is demonstratively certain 
that if the world is to be evangelized, it must 
be by means, not by miracles. And, sir, if 
we succeed in getting our missionary vessel 
under way, it will not be by fair speeches, or 
loud professions, but by fulfilling, to the letter, 
the laconic peroration of Dean Swift's cele- 
brated sermon — we must, in one word, 
" Doion with our diistP 

Suppose, sir, for instance, this meeting, ne- 
7nine contradiceiite, on the spot resolve itself 
into a committee of ways and means. Al- 
ready I think I see the eyes of our enterpris- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 37 

ing brethren the collectors, sparkling full of 
expectation. But stay, my dear brethren ; 
be not too sanguine. Alas, we can invite 
yon to no gold or silver mines: they are 
amazingly scarce in this country ; but you 
may draw encouragement from the language 
of the resolution I hold in my hand. Here 
it is asserted as a fact^ that " the silver and 
the gold are the Lord's, while we are but the 
stewards and almoners of his bounty." Now, 
sir, if this be true, and I have no doubt of it, 
we may get at the silver and gold this very 
night. We must all of us turn miners. We 
must take the pick-axe of, conviction, the 
mighty lever of conscience, and dig down 
into our own hearts, cleansing away the rub- 
bish of self love. O, sir, once break up this 
great deep, and depend upon it there are hid- 
den treasures below. Would to God I had 
the prophet's rod ! Methinks I would smite 
the rock, and what a stream of golden bene- 
volence would issue forth! Sir, I am per- 
suaded that this meeting w^ill triuniphantly 
rebut the illiberal insinuation of certain hea- 
then poets, that the age in which we live is a 
brazen or an iron age — they will this night 
provcj to the very testimony of sight and sense, 



38 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

that this is the golden^ or at least the silver 
age. 

Sir, in conclusion, permit me to pursue this 
idea one step farther. We live in an age of 
retrenchment and reform. But, sir, although 
no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, I fore- 
see a period near at hand when the principles 
of moral retrenchment and moral reform 
shall be carried into full and legitimate effect. 
The time is at hand when true benevolence 
will stand on the solid basis of conscientious 
frugality, and genuine charity on cheerful 
self denial — when the great inquiry will be, 
How much can I give to GckI ? How little 
will supply my wants? It was this legiti- 
mate principle w^hich gave such a moral 
splendour to the poor widow^s mite, of whom 
it was said, that whereas others gave of their 
abundance, she gave all that she had. I see 
the day coming when our Christian ladies 
shall emulate the chivalry of the wives and 
daughters of the ancient crusaders, and cast 
in their bracelets, their rings, and their jew- 
elry, to carry on this holy war — when the 
fathers of our families, like the heads of Jew- 
ish houses, will pour in their golden gifts to 
build the temple of the Lord — when our 



By THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 39 

young men of fortunej unlike the young man 
in the gospel, will sell all that they have, and 
give to the poor heathen, and taking up their 
missionary cross, follow their victorious Cap- 
tain ; and when the whole Christian church 
shall arise to the noble disinterestedness of 
primitive principles, and the universal charity 
of primitive practice. The hour is at hand, 
sir, when reform, moral reform, personal re- 
form, domestic reform, will be the order of the 
day. It will turn the world upside down. It 
will enter our dwellings, and revolutionize 
our very household establishments. It wiU 
almost work miracles. It will sweep away 
from our mantel-pieces our splendid pier 
glasses, handsome glass and China vases de- 
corated with artificial flowei*s, and substitute 
neat Tnissionary boxes. It will convert rib- 
ands and veils into cordage for our ships, and 
India shawls into substantial sails ; and pia- 
nofortes and music books into Bibles and 
hymn-books for the heathen. It will trans- 
mute gold watches into silver or pinchbackj 
and transmit the net proceeds to the mission- 
ary treasury. 

But, sir, are we speaking of the future ? 
Whatj shall posterity take our crown ? Nay, 



40 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

sir, let us this night anticipate the prophet's 
vision — let us take time by the forelock — let 
us make our advance march in the career of 
benevolence — let us prove ourselves not chil- 
dren in this business. Come, my brethren, 
let us try our strength, test our principles, 
prove our love to God and our heathen 
neighbours. Are your hearts ready, your 
hands ready, your money ready? Then as 
ye have '-freely received, freely give," and 
^•whatsoever thy hand findeth thee to do, do 
it with all thy might." 



SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS 

Delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the 
American Su7iday School Union, on a Reso- 
lution, offered hy Dr. Reese, of New-York^ 
May 24, 1831. 

Mr. President, — I rise, sir, to second the 
resolution offered by my respected brother ;— 
a resolution which I not only hold in my 
hand, but the sentiments of which I have 
treasured up in my heart. This resolution 
holds out the oKve-branch of friendship to 
those kindred Sabbath School Unions which, 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 41 

aithoug-h not immediately connected with 
that over which you, sir, have the honour to 
preside, are yet directly engaged in the same 
high and holy cause ; while at the same 
time it brings into full review those broad and 
liberal principles on which this American 
Sunday School Union is founded, and on 
which I trust it will stand to the end of time. 

Sir, I had not this morning the remotest 
intention of addressing this meeting. Indeed, 
sir, you know that I had decHned the honour- 
able invitation of your board some days ago ; 
but when I was informed by my respected 
brother that this resolution was to be submit- 
ted in the course of this day, I dared no 
longer refuse ; for, sir, if I forget the noble 
and magnanimous principles herein identi- 
fied, let my right hand forget her cunning, 
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my 
mouth. 

However, sir, as I feel myself utterly un- 
prepared to make a speech on the occasion, 
perhaps you will indulge me in attempting to 
mould and present my views in the form of a 
little allegory. 

Once upon a time it so happened in your 
city of brotherly love, that a certain widow 



42 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIOXS, 

lady, wiili a large family of little daughters, 
was cast upon the protection of Providence 
and tlie compassion of the public. How to 
provide for the temporal wants of her httle 
household, or how to furnish the means of 
a suitable education, were subjects which 
pressed with weighty anxiety upon her ma- 
ternal and affectionate heart. At length it 
was suggested by a few friends, that if she 
could open a httle book-store in one of the 
principal streets of your city. and. in connec- 
tion with this, superintend a small school, she 
might possibly make provision for the family. 
and accomplish the education of her daugh- 
ters. This lady. sir. being possessed of fine 
talents, both natural and acquired, entered 
mto the proposed enterprise, and succeeded 
at once beyond her utmost calculation, or even 
the sanguine expectations of her friends. Her • 
higii character secured her friends ; her ta- 
lents secured her pupils : while her sincere 
and ardent piety threw all around her little 
estabhshment a bright and soul-animating 
attraction. Thus. sir. being a woman of 
strong calculation, keen penetration, and com- 
prehensive views, she speedily increased her 
capital, enlarged her establishment, extended 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 43 

her business, strengthened her connections, 
until finally, in the very centre of your beau- 
tiful city, she erected a spacious and commo- 
dious building to answer and accommodate 
the claims of her growing and multifarious 
concern. Never, sir, did your good city pos- 
sess a lady who maintained so high a place 
in public estimation. Her praise was in all 
the churches, and the report of her fame tra- 
velled to the remotest bounds of this republic. 
In the mean time, sir, her lovely daughters ar- 
rived to years of maturity. Never were the be- 
nefits of a systematic religious education more 
happily illustrated than in these young ladies. 
They were the fac simile, the very image of 
their honoured parent, inheriting her talents, 
breathing her spirit, emulating her practical 
piety, and walking in her footsteps. 

But the time had now arrived when it be- 
came the positive duty of the old lady to 
make suitable settlements for her daughters, 
and establish them for life. And having 
trained them under her own eye, and 
having the utmost confidence in their princi- 
ples, she placed them in similar establish- 
ments to her own — one in New- York, ar^ 



44 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Other in Baltimore, a third in Ohio^ and 
so on. 

In this view I am quite certain that it will 
create no surprise in your mind, sir, when I 
announce to this meeting that these good 
daughters (as good daughters generally 
will) obtained good husbands. They mar- 
ried well and honovirably — one into the Pres- 
byterian family, a second into the Baptist 
family, a third into the Protestant Episcopal 
family, a fourth into the Methodist family, a 
fifth into the society of Friends. 

For some time the old lady was enabled to 
rejoice in the blessings of a good Providence, 
and the growing prosperity of her family. 
But, sir, man, and I suppose woman too, is 
born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. 
Every family has its troubles. The old lady 
had her share. After a lapse of time strange 
rumours floated through the country. Some 
said the old lady was getting too rich, and 
was amassing in secret immense sums of 
money, by which she would at some future 
time completely run down the establishments 
of her daughters. Others thought the old 
lady was too fond of power, and gravely pre- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 45 

dieted that if she were not kept in check she 
would endanger the liberties of this promis- 
ing republic. Women had been ambitious 
in past ages, and who knew but she might 
at this very moment be aspiring to the presi- 
dential chair, and, like another Ehzabeth, 
grasp the helm of the state? A third class of re- 
porters thought her vastly too sectarian ; it was 
hinted she went too often to the Presbyterian 
Church. One thought she had too little reli- 
gion, a second thought she had too much, 
and some advised her, as a wise woman, to 
let religion alone altogether. 

These numerous whisperings troubled the 
old lady in Philadelphia. She determined 
on a decisive movement, and to bring the 
matter to an issue. Accordingly, she de- 
spatched expresses and summoned her daugh- 
ters before her, to whom she addressed herself 
in the following language : — 

My Dear Daughters — I have called you 
together to relieve your minds and my own 
in reference to the mutual understanding 
which ought to subsist, and has hitherto sub- 
sisted among us as one family. 

You can recollect the period when we 
lived in the little book-store, when we were 



46 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

cast upon the compassion of Providence, and 
the patronage of the pubUc. You recollect 
the principles on which we set out, and the 
course we have pursued. Heaven has 
blessed our labours, and God has spared me 
to see my dear family happy and prosperous. 
Yet remember, my children, although some 
change has taken place in our outward cir- 
cumstances, you have married, and with your 
families are settled ; — yet 1 trust you are de- 
termined to maintain the same sound princi- 
ples, and the same friendly feeUng as at first. 
Remember, I am your mother still ! and let 
no idle reports disturb the harmony of the 
family. You know I exercise no control 
over your establishments. Manage your own 
concerns in your owni way. All that I have 
is yours, arftl is reserved for the common bene- 
fit of ye all, without respect of persons. Let 
us live in peace. If you wish to bring my 
gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, then 
listen to idle reports and renounce me. But 
let me rather have your confidence, your 
love ; then will I die Uke good old Simeon, 
saying, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy ser- 
vant depart in peace." She ceased. Her 
daughters, melted into tears, rushed into 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 47 

her embrace, crying, "O mother, live for 
ever." 

Sir, I leave the moral of this Utile allegory 
to the good sense of this meeting, and the 
application thereof to men of honest hearts. 
As I stand upon this platform, and look 
around upon this vast assemblage, permit me 
to say, in the words of the Psalmist, " Mercy 
and truth are met together, righteousness and 
peace have kissed each other. Truth shall 
spring out of the earth, and righteousness 
shall look down from heaven.'' 



SUBSTANCE OF A SPEECH 

Delivered at the Tenth Anniversary of the Mis- 
sionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, within the hounds of the Philadelphia 
Conference, on Monday evening, April 19, 1830. 

Mr. President : — The immortal Milton, 
in that splendid poem which will for ever 
stand an imperishable monument of the lofty 
powers of human genius, informs us that 
when the news arrived in hell that God Al- 
mighty had created a new and beautiful 



48 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIOXS, 

^vorld, and tenanted it with happy and holy 
beincrs. Satan, moved ^vith malignant fury, 
summoned his infernal princes and potentates 
with a voice •• so loud that all the hollow deep 
of hell resounded;- '-Their general's voice 
thev soon obeyed innunjerabie.'' Lp from 
their fiery beds they sprung upon the wing. 
This conclave of devils enter into deep and 
solemn consultation how they may blast the 
designs of Heaven, and destroy the happy 
pair now seated in the bowers of paradise. 
Aner various powerfid addresses from the 
chieftains of this infernal confederation, they 
unanimously resolve themselves into a dia- 
bohcal missionary society, and appoint Satan, 
their connnander in chief, as their first mns- 
sionary from hell to earth, to accomphsh the 
arduous task of discovering this new world, 
and, if possible, of seducing its innocent in- 
habitants from their allegiance to the hving 
God. 

I need not, sir, declare in your hearing the 
success of this infernal mission. Our world, 
resounding with groans, lamentation, and 
wo. returns the melancholy result ; and th.e 
'- god of this world,"- high seated in spiritual 
^ ickedness. proclaims his victory decisive. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 49 

But, sir, if "the children of this generation 
are wiser than the cliildren of light," then 
peradventure we too may gather instruction 
even from the policy of devils. If they, in a con- 
demned and accursed state, could exhibit such 
calm deliberation, deep concentration, invin- 
cible fortitude, and quenchless perseverance, 
shall the Christian church be lacking in a 
cause blessed by the benediction of Heaven, 
and certain of success ? What ! shall devils 
exhibit more zeal to destroy, than Christians 
to save the world ? I thank God, sir, this 
missionary meeting, from the centre to the 
circumference, cries, Never, never ! 

Sir, we are met together in the cause of God 
and man. Not, indeed, as citizens of the 
political commonwealth, to debate the rights 
of men, but as citizens of the new Jerusalem, 
to devise ways and means for the regenera- 
tion of our world. We aim at conquest, but it 
is spiritual conquest; we grasp at empire, but it 
is spiritual empire, — "the weapons of our war- 
fare are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty 
through God to the pulling down of strong- 
holds;" and we are looking forward with bril- 
liant anticipation to the happy era when great 
voices shall be heard in heaven proclaiming, 



50 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

" The kingdoms of this world are beconie the 
kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he 
shall reign for ever and ever." We cannot, 
therefore, sir, withhold our congratulations on 
the propitious circumstances in which we 
meet together. 

We have reason, in the first place, to thank 
God for the continued peace of the world, a 
circumstance highly favourable to the pro- 
gress of missionary enterprise. The trumpet 
of the gospel has not been silenced by the 
trumpet of war, while the herald of the cross 
has traversed the seas fearless of an approach- 
ing enemy, and finds a cheerful welcome in 
every friendly port. It is true, the plough- 
share of revolution is passing over the earth, 
but it is only breaking up the rugged soil for 
the receptipn of the gospel seed. Greece has 
fought her way to civil and religious freedom, 
and once more found a place in the scale of 
nations. Jerusalem itself has been rescued 
from the clutch of the false prophet, and be- 
longs once more to the family of Abraham. 
There is, sir, an evident shaking among the 
nations, indicating that our God is girding 
his sword upon his thigh, and riding forth in 
his gospel chariot to sweep the earth. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 51 

In the midst of these political agitations, 
the Sun of righteousness is rapidly ascending 
its meridian, while the light of Christianity, 
like the rays of the morning, is silently and 
imperceptibly stealing over the world. While 
missionary operations abroad have been emi- 
nently distinguished by abundant outpourings 
of the Holy Spirit, to the salvation of thou- 
sands of the perishing heathen, the missionary 
spirit has taken a firmer hold and a deeper 
root in the heart and conscience of Christians 
at home. By the last annual report of the 
parent society, we find that it had within the 
last year doubled its income, from seven to 
fourteen thousand dollars; and while we 
congratulate this meeting on the fact, yet, sir, 
when it is remembered that this sum only 
supposes an average subscription of less than 
four cents upon each member of our societies, 
I think it will be confessed that such a sum 
bears no adequate proportion to the resources 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, or the 
wants of the world at large. 

From this general review we would sum 
up our friendly greetings in the memorable 
words of our father Wesley, " The best of all 
is, God is with us." Yet, be it remembered, 



52 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

God will only be with us while we are co- 
workers with him in the evangelization of 
the world. This is our pecuhar caUing, to 
spread Scriptural holiness through the earth ; 
if we forget this, God will forget us. If \a e 
forget the missionary cause, may our right 
hand forget its cunning — may our tongue 
cleave to the roof of our mouth. 

Here, then, we approach the friends of 
Christ on the broad scale of this missionary 
question. In the advocacy of this good cause 
we rather choose the ground of appeal than 
argument. The truth is, the missionary 
question is proved by the stubborn evidence 
of facts. The temple of truth is illuminated 
by fift)^ thousand missionary torches lit from 
the heavenly altar, and we feel no necessity 
to stand forth gravely to argue that the light 
shines. We deny not that opposition has 
been made, and is made; but, sir, we are 
careful for nothing — the cause is of God, and 
it must stand. The missionary cause has 
shared the fate of every great and good de- 
sign that has ever been proposed to mankind. 
Cowardly men have renounced it because it 
was great, — and bad men have hated it be- 
cause it was good, — and prejudiced men have 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 53 

coiideumed it because it was new, — and co- 
vetous men have grudged it because it was 
expensive, — and what then? Wh}^, sir, in 
spite of the world, the flesli, and the devil, 
it stands a towering monument of the mighty 
power of God, against which the waves of 
infidelity may dash, but dash in vain. 

But, sir, of all the adversaries that ever 
arrayed themselves against the missionary 
question, the most formidable are your cool, 
prudent, calculating, common sense men, 
who v/ould reduce the question to a mere 
sale of profit and loss, — and measure the con- 
science of the Christian church, and the 
claims of the heathen world, by the rule of 
national expediency. Whichever way you 
turn, these men are ready for you, with a 
longitudinal coimtenance, a grave calculation, 
and a solemn admonition to count the cost. 
Now, sir, it shall be our business this night 
to expose the fallacy of their reasonings. 

There are three great fields of missionary 
labour, which have long claimed the Chris- 
tian efforts of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church : the first is, the North American 
Indians ; the second, our African population ; 
the third; our sister states of South America. 



54 SPEECHES OX 3EVLRAL OCCASIOXS, 

We place the Xoith American Indians first 
because they are our nearest neighbours ; 
andj as the original proprietors of this soil, 
they have, on the ground of justice, the 
strongest moral claiTn. Sir. I love the In- 
dian character, in its original and unadulte- 
rated grandeur. It is the noblest forni of the 
natural man on the face of our earth. The 
Indian is cast in the very •• poetry of nature.*' 
Strong and impetuous, he is as the cataract 
that thunders down Niagara ; free as the 
mountain eagle that screams above his native 
rocks, or as the deer that range through his 
measureless forests. Compare him with the 
insipid Hindoo, or the stupid Hottentot, 
and see how he soars in the manhood of 
moral and intellectual greatness. In peace a 
true friend, in war a noble enemy : there are 
more acts of magnanimity recorded of this 
people, than any other savage nation. These 
are the men who have made the first call 
upon our Christian principles. 

Never shall I forget, so long as memory 
holds a place in this bosom, the powerful ap- 
peal of Peter Jones, the Indian missionary : 
— •• My white friends, there was a time when 
all this country belonged to our Indian fathers. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 00 

Oar fathers used to fish in these rivers, and 
hunt through these woods ; and where your 
houses now stand, there stood their wigwams. 
But the white men csucne across the great 
waters, — and the Indians drank the fire wa- 
ters and they died. And now we are ahuost 
all gone — there are a few in the west, and a 
handful of us in the north. And what do 
the Indians ask of you ? Do we want our 
land back again ? No : we do not want our 
land back again. Do we want your fine 
houses, or your fine farms ? No : we do not. 
All we say is. Send us the gospel — send us 
missionaries, and we are satisfied." 

With gratitude to God we record that the 
American churches have answered that ap- 
peal. Long before the standard of Meth- 
odism was planted on this soil, there was an 
Elliot, the Indian apostle, who sought and 
found these sons of the forest. After him 
followed the sainted and heroic Brainerd — 
that prince, and pattern, and martyr of modern 
missionaries — who, amid unparalleled suffer- 
ing, saw the travail of his Redeemer's soul in 
the conversion of the Indians, and died satis- 
fied, crying, '' Mine eyes have seen thy salva- 
tion." The httle missionary cloud which in 



56 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

those early days was only as the size of a man's 
handj has now enlarged and spread over tho 
continent — and holy men are pouring forth 
from the different churches in this labour of 
love. We withhold names, as the parlies are 
hving ; but their record is on high, and, thank 
God, they have living epistles in yon western 
woods, "seen and read of all men." It has 
pleased God to bless our unworthy labours 
during the past year in a remarkable man- 
ner. In the Choctaw nation alone 4,000 
have been evangelized, and are added to our 
church. It would seem a second day of 
pentecost has dawned, and the set time to 
favour these tribes has come. No man can 
question the work — a change in spiritual 
character produces one in moral character — 
and evangelization ever draws civilization in 
its train. 

Sir, these are positive and undeniable facts, 
published to the world. And is there a heart 
so dead as to oppose a work like this ? Lives 
there a man within these United States who 
dares to condemn what God has so manifestly 
approved ? Yes, sir, even here he is, even 
the grave, calculating gentleman, the political 
economist. *' Gentlemen/' sa3^s he, "you have 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 57 

a zeal, but it is not according to knowledge. 
You are only wasting your time and your 
money. The Indian tribes are vanishing, 
and in another generation or two they will 
have perished as a people. Besides, you are 
doing real injury. The state legislatures 
have long been convinced it is high time to 
extinguish the Indian title to certain lands — 
they must be removed, and your efforts only 
protract a useless attachment to their present 
situation. Depend upon it, gentlemen, your 
missionary scheme stands very much in the 
way of the national prosperity." Now, sir, 
in answer to this kind of reasoning, suppose 
we admit, for the sake of argument, that in a 
few generations the Indian tribes will be ex- 
tinct, — does that absolve the Christian church 
from present duty to the present generation ? 
If w^e are to withdraw our missionaries, then, 
we ask, who is to answer at the bar of God 
for the one million of Indians now on this 
cominent? at whose door will their blood 
lie? They can, if they will, extinguish the 
Indian title ; but, sir, they cannot extinguish 
the missionary flame in the bosoms of Chris- 
tian American citizens. 

But,sir,we flatly deny the assertion. What! 



53 SPEECHES OX SEVERAL OCCASION'S, 

siiall the Indian tribes become extinct ? shall 
they perish J Sir. they shall not perish. God 
Almighty will not let them perish. Thou- 
sands of them have given their hearts to 
God. and he will bless them down to their 
children's children. They shall live, if it be 
but to discomfit the selfish purposes of rapa- 
cious pohticians. They may be banished. 
They may be sent away with a show of lav\^ 
under the seal of legislative sanction ; but 
shall they go alone ? Humanity. Christian- 
ity, justice forbid it. Sooner than they should 
go alone, I would myself shoulder my knap- 
sack, grasp my staff, cross the Rocky 3Iount- 
ains, and accompany them to the shores of 
the Pacific. Shall they go alone? Methinks 
I hear a thousand ^lethodist preachers cry. 
They shall not go alone — here we are, send 
us — this people are our people — their God is 
our God. Sir. they shall not go alone, — God 
abeady has raised up among them Moseses 
and Aarons, Calebs and Joshuas, who will 
accompany them through the western wilder- 
ness : God's good providence will be as a pil- 
lar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by 
night, — his banner over them will be love, 
and they shall dwell in a wealthy place. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 59 

Leaving, for the present, the claim of the 
aborigines of our country, we would now call 
the consideration of another almost equal in 
importance,— I mean the claim of our Afri- 
can population. I am aware that on the 
very threshold of this subject we shall be en- 
countered by our prudent calculator w4th a 
hint, " that the subject is of a most delicate 
nature." We reply, that we disavow in the 
course of our remarks any intention of in- 
trenching upon the civil or pohtical bearings 
of this question. But connected as we are 
with a kingdom that is not of this world, we 
take the Hberty of asserting and exercising 
the freedom of speech in respect of its reli- 
gious bearing upon the happiness of the 
world. We should highly regret and strongly 
deprecate any warmth or vituperation of ex- 
pression on this subject. That the residence 
of this unhappy race among us is a serious 
evil, is a truth already admitted by a large 
proportion of the southern population of this 
flourishing republic. The evil exists at our 
very doors, and v/e must do our best to 
counteract or ameliorate its pernicious in- 
fluence. 

Sir, among the numerous plans of philan- 



60 SPEECHES OX SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

thropy which are before the pubhc on this 
subject. I only know one which fairly meets 
the exigencies of the case — I refer to reli- 
gioiis colonization. I say. religions colo- 
nization ^^ ^ix '. for. depend upon it. without 
religious principle mankind, whether white 
or black, cannot govern themselves. Reli- 
gion must 2:0 in the advance of colonization. 
and prepare the way for a general emigration. 
It is in this view I have always considered the 
coloured population on this western side of the 
Atlantic, whether in the United States or the 
Indies, as one vast field of missionary labour. 
And. sir. I thank God. 3Iethodism. from the 
beginning, has been one extensive mission 
to the unfortunate Africans. Here the be- 
loved Coke gathered his brightest laurels — 
here Methodism has reaped its richest har- 
vest of immortal souls. If any thing pecu- 
liarly attaches myself to the Methodist minis- 
try, it is tbe pleasing reflection tbiat it stands 
identified with the salvation, instruction, and 
guardian care of 100.000 converted Afri- 
cans. 

Inspired with these sentiments, we point to 
the colony of Liberia, on the western coast 
of Africa, as one of the noblest and most 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 61 

promising missions on the face of the earth. 
In despite of the prophetical forebodings of 
its enemies, it has stood the test of ten pros- 
perous years, and is rising daily in poUtical 
and religious importance. It has proved that 
Africans are men, and, when placed in suita- 
ble circumstances, can govern themselves. 
Thank God, sir, a good foothold has been 
obtained on the Afric coast — the standard of 
American liberty has been planted — and the 
stripes and the stars float in triumph on that 
very soil once depopulated by the slave trade. 
And now shall we not also plant alongside the 
standard of the cross? Glory to God ! there 
are numbers of enterprising young African 
preachers among us who burn with holy 
ardour to carry the blood-stained banner over 
the Atlantic, and wave it triumphantly over 
the land of their fathers. 

Can the United States make a more ac- 
ceptable atonement to high heaven for the 
injuries done to this unhappy race? Can 
the Christian church offer a nobler tribute on 
the altar of thanksgiving, than the gift of 
the gospel to the tribes of Africa ? May God 
inspire, and then accept the sacrifice ! 

Sir, I would advocate the third missionary 



62 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

daim, and then concludej — I mean the claim 
of our sister states of South America. In 
every respect they present a loud and press- 
ing appeal upon our Christian sympathy and 
assistance. Look, sir, at their geographical 
relation — look at their political affinity — look, 
above all, at their degraded and distracted 
condition — and then say whether we, as men 
and as Christians, are justified in our present 
inactive position. These United States have 
led them on in the vanguard of civil liberty, 
— shall we leave them there ? if so, the end 
will be worse than the beginning. Sir, 
they are proving every day the truth, that 
civil liberty itself is but an empty bubble un- 
less connected with religious liberty. The 
staff of freedom never stands so firm as on the 
Rock of ages, — and the flag of liberty never 
floats so triumphantly as in the breeze of in- 
spiration. Sir, the states of South America 
will never taste the sweets of liberty until 
they drink of the " cup of salvation." 

Methinks, in the utterance of this senti- 
ment, I am beset by a host of those prudent, 
calculating gentlemen. " What !" say they, 
" what new scheme is this ? a crusade to 
South America ! well, of all the schemes in 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 63 

this moon-Struck age, this is the wildest. Sir, 
the South Americans do not want your mis- 
sionaries—they are perfectly content with the 
religion of their forefathers. At least, wait 
at home until you are sent for: why should 
you add to the distractions of these govern- 
ments? . Besides, if you were to send your 
missionaries, you know very well their hfe 
would be in jeopardy. Truly the country is 
poor enough without sending our money to 
South America to support such fanatical 
schemes-; you had better send them domestic 
manufactures, and receive in return solid 
Spanish dollars ; this would be better patriot- 
ism." 

In reply, permit me to ask, Are we to obey 
God or man? God has commanded, "Go 
into all the world and preach the gospel to 
every creature." Did he annex a condition 
that we are to stay at home until the heathen 
^send for us? Was this the practice of the 
old apostles? Alas, sir, had the Saviour of 
the world acted on this principle, we, of all 
men, would have been most miserable. But, 
sir, he came unto his own although his own 
'received him not. And we in missionary 
matters must go and do Hkewise. " What is 



64 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

the reasoaj" said one, ^* that the Methodists are 
more successful than the Presbyterians, Epis- 
copahans, and Baptists, in breaking into new 
countries ?" " The reason is this," returned 
the other, — " when these other sects knock at 
the door, if it does not open they go away ; 
but the Methodists knock again aud again, 
and if no one comes, they burst the door 
open and walk in.'' 

But, sir, it seems in attempting a South 
American mission there are difficulties in the 
way. Granted : and what then ? Can you 
accomplish any thing great or good without 
encountering difficulties ? Is it the quality of 
true living faith to flinch at difficulties? No, 
sir; true faith, strong in the presence and pro- 
mises of Israel's God, looks difficulties in the 
face, and cries, "Let us go up and possess 
the land, for we are fully able." I am ready- 
to admit, that the religion of that countrj^- is 
fortified within and intrenched without, and 
bids defiance to missionary operations. But, 
sir, is the rampart of opposition to be com- 
pared with that which withstood the apostle 
of the Gentiles at Corinth, Athens, or Rome ? 
and are the weapons of our warfare less 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 65 

effective now than in the days of the apos- 

I see the lofty bulwarks of paganism 
flanked by the batteries of heathen philoso- 
phy, and intrenched by the prejudices of four 
thousand years; and I see beneath, the sim- 
ple apostle, a solitary man, indeed, but not a 
man of worldly caIcuIation,-no, sir, a man 
of faith ; and he calmly moves on to the at- 
taclc, beanng in his hand the conductor or 
lightnmg rod of divine truth j he points it 
agamst the rampart, and lifting up his voice 
he cries. Help, God of Israel, help ! God an- 
swers by fire,-the lightnings flash, and the 
whole bulwark is dashed to a thousand 
pieces,-while the apostle marches forward 
conquering and to conquer. 

But, sir, it is said our missionaries may lose 
then hves in this undertaking. Be it so. 
ihank God we have men among us who 
can say with the same apostle, "But none of 
these things move me, neither count I my 
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish 
ray course with joy, and the ministry which 
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify 
the gospel of the grace of God." 



66 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Again, sir, we are told about the expense. 
How can we be warranted, say they, in 
sending so much money out of the country? 
I must confess I am at times perfectly as- 
tounded at the inconsistent reasoning of some 
men on this very subject. Now, sir, they argue 
all on one side of the question. We may 
have English stage-players, both male and fe- 
male, French dancers, Italian opera singers, — 
and ten times the amount of our missionary 
fund will be sacrificed, — and these very men 
will pay their money, admire, and find no 
fault. And yet, forsooth, when a few hun- 
dred dollars are expended in the outfit of a 
missionary, to carry Heaven's best gift to 
distant lands, they raise a hue and cry, as 
though the national credit were endangered. 

What, sir ! are we to measure our duty to 
our heathen neighbours by a scale of dollars 
and cents? Are we to be more careful to 
save dollars than to save souls ? Are we to 
sell our Saviour over again for pieces of silver? 
May Heaven in his mercy pity and forgive 
the man who can entertain such narrow and 
mercenary sentiments ! But, sir, whatever 
opposing opinions men may cherish, the 
evangelization of the world must go forward. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 67 

" The field is the world/' and God is the hus- 
bandman. He has given to his Son the hea- 
then for his inheritance, and the uttermost 
parts of the earth for his possession. If we 
draw back, God will raise up other labourers 
to reap the glorious harvest. 

Draw back ! in a cause for which God 
gave his Son, and Jesus spilt his precious 
blood ! in which the apostles agonized, and 
martyrs burned at the stake, and holy angels 
watched with breathless anxiety. Draw 
back! in a cause which binds the human 
family in the golden bonds of amity and 
love, — which communicates living hope, and 
dying consolation, and everlasting happiness 
to thousands of our heathen neighbours. 
Draw back ! and leave our heathen brother 
to perish in the highway of perdition, in his 
sins, and in his blood, while we, like the cold- 
blooded Levite, pass by on the other side. No, 
sir, — so long as the life blood ebbs and flows 
in these veins — so long as conscience main- 
tains its awful tribunal — so long as our 
hearts beat true with love to God and man — 
we solemnly pledge ourselves to support this 
good cause with every gift and talent Heaven 
may please to bestow. 



68 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

In the name of Elijah^ God I make my 
last appeal. I call upon the fathers by the 
remembrance of ancient days. I call upon 
the children by the prospect of coming years. 
I call upon the rich by the abundance they 
possess. I call upon the poor by their hope 
of heavenly treasure. I call upon our young 
women by the compassion that dwells in 
their bosoms. I call upon the young men by 
the spark of latent fire which kindles on their 
hearts. I call upon all — ''to come up to the 
help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord 
against the mighty." 



SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS 

Delivered at the Fifth Anniversary of the Meth- 
odist Preachers'' Aid Society of Baltimore, held 
in Light-street Church, Nov, 3, 1835. 

Mr. President, — I am unexpectedly 
summoned by your board of managers on 
the emergency of the occasion to stand in the 
lot originally appropriated to our worthy bro- 
ther Levings, of the Troy conference, who 
has suddenly been called away this morning 
from your city to the north, by the urgency 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 69 

of imperative and indispensable engagements. 
Notwithstanding, I do honestly assure you, 
that in advocating the claims of " The Meth- 
odist Preachers' Aid Society of Baltimore," 
I feel myself perfectly free from all possible 
embarrassment, and come up to the subject 
in the spirit of Christian frankness and mi- 
nisterial independence. There are some 
who have plead the cause of your society on 
a principle of mercy, and others on a princi- 
ple of justice. Sir, I shall not confine myself 
to either of these grounds, but taking my 
stand on the broad foundation of Methodist 
economy, I shall urge the claims of this insti- 
tution as an essential and integral part of 
that great system of practical mercy which 
we all love and venerate. 

In pursuing this course I may possibly in- 
cur the charge of egotistic sectarianism. Be 
it so. I am not careful to answer concerning 
this matter. I have no favour to ask, no 
apologies to offer. I shall speak the truth in 
love. 

The "Methodist Preachers' Aid Society of 
Baltimore" is an association of benevolent 
laymen, principally members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, who are united to- 



70 SPEECHES OX SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

gether to supply what has too long been c- 
desideratum among us, an adequate suppori 
to our needy superannuated preachers, theii 
wivesj widows. and children. And, sir, in ordei 
to see what may be accomphshed by united 
and steady effort, I would state, that although 
this society has been in existence only a little 
upward of eight years, within that short period 
it has accumulated a vested capital of §14,500, 
having distributed from the proceeds thereof 
about #4,000, and SS25 during the present 
year. The affairs of this society are admi- 
nistered by eighteen managers, nine of whom 
are chosen by the members of this institu- 
tion, and the remaining nine by the Balti- 
more annual conference, the latter of whom 
has the privilege of nominating annually to 
the board the most suitable objects for the 
application of its revenue. The individuals 
qualified to receive assistance from this society 
are itinerant Methodist preachers, with their 
families, who have travelled twelve years in 
the connection, and seven years within the 
bounds of the Baltimore annual conference. 
Sir, I shall not occupy your time by any far- 
ther statements as to the precise constitution 
of this society, but proceed to advocate its 



-SI BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. TT 

claims to our patronage and support on this 
general ground : — 

That the '^Methodist Preachers' Aid 
Society of Baltimore'^ is in full harmony 
U7id accordance ivith the original calling, 
active movements, and ulterior design arid 
objects of Methodism, 

Sir, I askj What was Methodisnij (so 
called,) and what is it now ? Is it not a re- 
vival of religion, of New Testament reli- 
gion? It was not a schism, nor a mere 
scheme of ecclesiastical policy, but a revival. 
It is about a hundred years ago since Al- 
mighty God revived his work in the hearts 
of a few Oxford students. They became the 
revivalists of the age. Sir, mark particularly 
the original character of the work. It was 
an appeal to the people. The people, sir, 
^did not call them — they called the people. 
•God called Wesley, and Wesley called the 
people. Nothing is more evident than that 
the Wesleys contemplated neither more nor 
less than a revival, and that specifically 
within the Church of England. They com- 
menced preaching the great awakening doc- 
trines of the Reformation, just as they found 
them in the articles and homilies of the 



72 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Church of England. And, sir, for this enor- 
mous heresy they were stigmatized as the 
setters forth of strange doctrines, and the 
doors of mother Church were closed against 
them. They were thrust out by the good 
providence of God into the wide field of the 
world. What did they do ? Do, sir — why, 
they appealed to the people^ and, glory to 
God, " the common people heard them glad- 
ly" — for this was done that the Scripture 
might be fulfilled where it is written, "To 
the poor the gospel is preached." 

Sir, the Wesleys in the first instance, not 
fully alive to the original calling of Meth- 
odism, appealed also to the clergy of the Esta- 
blishment, "Come over and help us," but, 
with a very few honourable exceptions, com- 
paratively in vain. 

But, sir, the great Head of the church called 
from the ranks of the people zealous and 
converted lay preachers. There was a 
Maxfield, a Thompson, a Pawson, a Mather, 
a Benson, an Asbury, a Clarke, and a host 
of others, men full of faith and the Holy 
Ghost, who rushed into the highways, and 
lanes, and alleys, preaching the everlasting 
gospel What is to be done now? How are 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 73 

the men to be supported? Why, sir, the 
motto of a Methodist preacher's standard 
was then, as it is now, "God and the 
PEOPLE." God first of allj then the peo- 
ple. It is true they had no parishes, no 
tithes, no glebes, no stated congregation, no 
positive salary ; but, sir, they had the people 
with them, and the poor cried, " Here is our 
penny a week," and the rich said, " Here is 
our table, and there is our stable, and yonder 
is a little prophet's room by the wall — come 
in, thou man of God, and abide." Chapels 
were to be built, and the people built them. 
Schools for the preachers' children were to be 
founded, and the people endowed them. 
Books were to be printed, and the people 
purchased them. God, through the mouth 
of Wesley, called for missionaries, and sab- 
bath schools, and tracts, and all the people 
cried. Amen. It was done. Yes, sir, the 
people have been, and I believe ever will be, 
true to us, as long as we are true to God and 
ourselves. 

It is true, sir, we have our difficulties, but 
we know our refuge and resource. Our 
lordly enemies have cried, "Who are these 
ignorant, incompetent, unauthorized teachers, 



74 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

travelling out of the regular line of the suc- 
cession ? We answer in a voice of thunder, 
^^ Ask the peojyle.^^ We wish to hold no 
controversy ; we merely say, Let us alone ; 
and if perchance we should encounter, in our 
itinerant course, one of these lofty successors 
of the apostles, we would meekly act toward 
him as Mr. Wesley did to the country magis- 
trate. It is related of Mr. Wesley, that, riding 
one day to preach, he met a pompous country 
magistrate, mounted on his stately charger, 
who, looking with ineffable scorn upon the 
little apostle of Methodism, exclaimed, in a 
rough tone of voice, "I shall not give the 
road to a fool." Wesley very calmly reined 
his horse to the left, and quietly replied, ^^But 
IwilV 

We affirm, then, that the constitution of 
this society is in exact accordance with the 
calling of Methodism. It is an appeal to 
the people to sustain the Methodist ministry, 
and it will be answered, " For freely ye have 
received, freely give." 

I will now proceed to argue the merits of 
the case from the second clause of our origi- 
nal proposition, namely. 

That this society is in full accord- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 75 

ance with the active movements of Meth- 
odism. 

We need not here remind you, sir, that the 
grand pecuharity of our ministry is its itine- 
rant character. And we conceive that it 
may easily be shown that the operation of 
this society removes impediments, and gives 
increased celerity to the wheels of the system. 
It cannot be concealed that Methodism is ne- 
cessarily a system of sacrifice; and permit 
me to add, of mutual sacrifice. In this respect 
we are one with the people, and they with 
us. They surrender the right of choosing 
their own pastor, and we the right of choos- 
ing our own congregation. They yield up 
the power to legislate, and w^e the power to 
tax. They can make no laws, and we en- 
force no payment. Strange and unique as 
such conditions will appear, yet they are 
essentially necessary to the very existence of 
an itinerancy of ministers. Our system is 
emphatically a voluntary association, having 
no binding obligation but the love of God 
and the love of our brother also. We stand, 
therefore, on equal and independent ground, 
yet bound together in the sweet bonds of a 
common dependancy. We cannot do with' 



76 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

out the people, and the people cannot do 
without us. Now, sir, the itinerant system 
is good; it works well all over the world. 
But with all its excellences, it is clogged by- 
one grand incubus, which this society, at 
least, proposes to remove. I mean a compe- 
tent provision for the exigencies of misfor- 
tune, sickness, or old age. 

In speaking of the actual condition of the 
Methodist ministry I wish to be governed by 
the severity of truth. I shall offer no pallia- 
tion, I shall attempt no exaggeration. It is 
really amusing to see the extremes into which 
some people run in speaking on this subject. 
There are some who represent us as well 
conditioned, jovial, idle, roving fellows, well 
mounted, and Uving on the fat of the land; 
imposing upon the ignorance of the poor, and 
basking in the smiles of the rich : while to 
the distorted imagination of others, the only 
proper idea of a Methodist preacher is that of 
a sallow-looking little man, of thin visage, 
and threadbare coat, mounted on a living 
skeleton, across empty saddle-bags, and in 
constant jeopardy of perishing by hunger. 

Now, sir, this kind of mischievous misrepre- 
sentation answers no other purpose than to 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 77 

degrade the ministry, or amuse the parties. 
We protest against it, and desire to speak the 
unvarnished truth. If we were required to 
characterize the itinerant ministry of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, we should de- 
scribe it, as for the most part, poor self-den y- 
ing, and laborious. It is not, in good truth, 
marked by that utter destitution and poverty 
which some people seem to imagine; on the 
contrary, in the possession of health, and in 
the exercise of a just economy, the Methodist 
ministers are probably as free from actual 
debt and worldly embarrassment as any 
body of preachers in the United States. They 
are aware that to be really useful we must 
be self-denying^ and feeling themselves 
called to teach the great mass of the peo- 
ple^ particularly the poor^ immense sacri- 
fices must be made. The severity of their 
labour, and inevitable exposure of person, in- 
volve a sacrifice of health, frequently of life. 
They know that as itinerants they can nei- 
ther accumulate much wealth nor learning ; 
but they are willing to renounce both for the 
love of Christ and the good of souls. In the 
attainment of a concentrated personal influ- 
ence, in the means for the proper education 



78 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

of their childrenj and in the enjoyments of 
the sweet retirements of home, they have 
literally to forsake all for the kingdom of 
heaven's sake. They feel, though poor them- 
selves, they are making many rich ; and so 
long as they have health, and means to tra- 
vel, they are ready to say with the apostle, 
^' But none of these things move us, so we 
may finish our course with joy." But, sir, 
here comes the trial of a Methodist preacher. 
Let his health fail him. Let him lose his 
voice. Let him lose his furniture by fire, or 
even his horse by accident — for, sir, these sol- 
diers of the cross not only march to the field, 
but furnish their own arms and ammunition, 
that is, they have, generally^ to purchase 
from their poor pittance their own furniture, 
books, and horses, — I say, let one or all of 
these casualties befall a preacher, or if he 
escape the whole, let old age, in its natural 
course, overtake him, then sir, O then, where 
is he? Will the great wheel of itinerancy- 
stop because he is sick or infirm ? No, verily ! 
He must lay, like the poor man in the gospel, 
by the way- side until some good Samaritan 
come to his relief " O," says one, " but he 
can obtain credit" — for what ? to run in 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 79 

debt? What! after preaching honesty to 
othersj shall he close the history of a useful 
ministerial life by violating his own con- 
science, and the rule of his own Discipline, by 
contracting debts without the possibility of 
paying? "O," cries another, ^'but there is 
the ^ great Methodist mammoth establish- 
ment in NeW'York^^ and the 'chartered 
fund,' and the 'conference collection.' " Grant- 
ed. Put the whole together, strike off his 
dividend, how much does this yield him? 
Forty dollars ! Goldsmith describes his vil- 
lage parson as ^^ passing rich ivith forty 
founds a year? Surely our aged and 
worn-out ministers may pass for poor with 
forty dollars a year^ and that at a period 
of life when the infirmities of old age may 
fairly claim a little indulgence and comfort. 

And now, sir, with these plain and obvious 
facts before us, I put it to the common sense 
and feeling of this assembly whether it be at 
all surprising that Methodist preachers, with 
these sad apprehensions of debt, difficulty, 
and destitution before them, should locate, 
and seek that little competence from the labour 
of their own hands which has not hitherto 
been furnished by the church ? " The best 



so SPEECHES OX SEVERAL OCCASIOXSj 

of men are but men at the best." and really, 
to my mind the vronder is. not that so many 
have retired from the work, as that so many 
should rernaiii, 

But= sir. it becomes a question of vital in- 
terest to the church- to inc^uire. whether this 
sad state of things is to continue? whether 
we are to sacriiice our best and highest orna- 
ments to a cruel and contracted policy? Will 
not the Methodist public hear, believe, feel, 
and act on this momentous subject 1 Sir. 
you say. and your society says. •• They will.** 
Let us appeal to Cesar, and to Cesar we will 
go. The hearts of C4od*s people are the trea- 
siuy of the church, and upon that treasury 
we will fearlessly draw. Sir. I rejoice that 
your society manfully comes up to the merits 
of the case. You have fairly resolved the 
problem as to what may be done, and done 
in a very short time. I cannot but approve 
of the organization of your society as an as- 
sociation of laymen. It is better to be in 
your hands — it is liable to less exception ; for 
were this exclusively a niinisterial association, 
it would argue on our part some secret dis- 
trust in the guardianship of Providence and 
the kindness and hberality of the people. It 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 81 

might possibly expose the ministry to the 
charge of growing richj secular, and making 
themselves independent of the people. It is 
pleasing also to remark, that this society ma- 
nifests a suitable regard for the office and 
personal feeling of the ministry, in giving the 
annual conference the right of electing half 
the board of managers, and the privilege of 
recommending from its body the proper sub- 
jects for the appropriation of its funds. There 
is not a shadow of a doubt but that in a very 
few years this noble institution will meet all 
the wants and exigencies of the itinerancy, 
raising every preacher above all worldly ap- 
prehension, and giving to this ancient and 
respectable conference that high and honoura- 
ble standing to which it has ever been entitled. 
I feel happy also in this opportunity of 
bearing my personal testimony to the cor- 
rection of an error which has unfortunately 
obtained in the minds of some, " that this is 
a charitable iiistitutionP I may be autho- 
rized to state, in the most open and unquahfied 
manner, that there is not a manager, or a 
member of this society, who does not disown, 
yea, spurn at such an insinuation. ^^A cha- 
ritable institution ! r Why, sir, we would 



82 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

sooner turn our backs upon it for ever ; we 
would not even say farewell ; and if in our 
travels we met it across our path, we would 
not even salute it by the way. No, sir, there 
is too much Christian magnanimity, too much 
nobility of soul and veneration for the minis- 
try, to tolerate such an idea for a single instant; 
the members of this society regard their insti- 
tution as a debt of devout gratitude^ and a 
tribute of Christian love to those faithful 
and laborious men who have been instru- 
mental in the salvation of their souls. 

Finally, sir, I regard this society as co-ope- 
rating in no inferior degree with the ulterior 
design of Methodism, as a great system of 
benevolent agency^ in supplying the spiritual 
wants and deciding the moral destinies of the 
world. The character of this, and indeed of 
any other church, must ultimately depend 
upon the character of its ministry. And the 
purity and efficiency of the ministry will de- 
pend upon its exemption from worldly cares 
and anxieties. I love the glorious system of 
ministerial itinerancy, established by Jesus 
Christ, and owned and honoured of God. I 
particularly love the Methodist itinerancy : 
uniting within itself an endless diversity of 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 83 

gifts and usefulness — combining the experi- 
ence of age, the vigour of manhood, with the 
ardour and enterprise of youth: a system, 
sir, of missionary activity, which directs its 
vigorous instrumentahty over the Rocky 
Mountains, where the foot of neither prophet 
nor apostle has ever trod the soil, down 
through the swamps and canebrakes of the 
south, into every corner of this extensive and 
extending republic ; planting its foot on the 
islands of the sea, and traversing the mighty 
continents of the earth. Shall such a system 
be sustained and perpetuated? Shall we 
hand it down to posterity better provided than 
we found it? Let this meeting give the 
answer. 

. Then, sir, " whatever our hand findeth to 
do, let us do it with our might, for there is no 
work, nor wisdom, nor knowledge, nor device, 
in the grave whither we are going." And, 
sir, if I can trust my feelings in recurring to 
the sad event, I might urge, as a final mo- 
tive, the irreparable loss your society has sus- 
tained in the death of its amiable and sainted 
corresponding secretary. Dr. Samuel Baker. 
Among its first and most zealous founders, 
he was the unchangeable and unchanging 



84 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

advocate of this society. May my poor heart 
pay this last tribute of fond affection to the 
memory of him who was the first friend I 
made in this city, whose hospitable roof was 
the first home I found, and in whose sweet 
society I have spent many a precious hour ! 
the ornament of his profession, a burning and 
a shining light, a pillar in God's house. He 
wiped away the orphan's falling tear, and 
comforted the widow's broken heart. But I 
must desist — I can say no more. 



SUBSTANCE OP A SPEECH 

Delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Ju" 
venile Missionary Society of Middletown, Con- 
necticut, held at the Commencement of the 
Wesley an University^ Wednesday evenings An-- 
gust 28, 1833. 

I FEEL myself happy, respected president, in 
being permitted to advocate the lofty claims of 
the missionary enterprise before the Areopa- 
gus of American Methodism, and the juve- 
nile branches of the missionary family. 

Particularly I address myself to my young 
friends of this town and university, who 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 85 

are already embarked in this adventurous 
achievement, as the rising hope, the living 
soulj and the chosen instruments of this good 
cause. 

Ifj sir, the great subject nov\r before us were 
not in itself infinitely superiour to all second- 
ary excitements, I should feel myself strung 
up to the utmost exercise and energy of 
thought and feeling, by the bare recollection of 
the possible results of this meeting upon the 
ardent minds and burning hearts by which I 
am surrounded. Who knows, sir, but a 
spark of holy ethereal fire may now be kin- 
dled, whose electric shock may tell on the 
destinies of generations yet unborn, and a 
blow struck which shall reverberate through 
ages yet to come ? 

Sir, it is no ordinary privilege to live in 
so spirit-stirring an age as the present. If a 
stream of time and a map of the world were 
now before me, and the question were put, 
^^ In what period of the ample circumference 
of this world's history would you choose to 
exist ?" I would say. Let me be a young man 
in the United States of America at the com- 
mencement of the nineteenth century. Never, 
never has the world presented so interesting 



86 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

an aspect ; never has the march of religion, 
knowledge, and liberty been so rapid ; never 
has the public mind been so graciously ex- 
cited; never have such great and effectual 
doors been opened for the advance of the 
missionary and the dissemination of the sa- 
cred Scriptures. 

Sir, let us stand, like the holy prophet on 
Mount Carmel, and watch the signs of the 
times. Is not the cloud rising out of the sea, 
the lofty beacon of an auspicious providence ? 
Look, sir, to the far off west, and bej^ond the 
precipices and pinnacles of the Rocky Mount- 
ains, nations yet untold are uttering the voice 
of appeal : their swift messengers have come, 
like the queen of Sheba, from the uttermost 
parts of the earth, to hear and to invite the wis- 
dom of a greater than Solomon. And scarcely, 
sir, are we recovered from our astonishment, ere 
another voice from the east, borne on the wings 
of the Vv^ind over the bosom of the Atlantic, it 
comes, it comes from widowed Africa, robbed of 
her children, and, like the weeping Rachel, re- 
fusing to be comforted because they are not. 
Yet in the dark hour of her extremity she is 
turning her imploring eye to Him who will 
not break the bruised reed. Hark! hark! 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 87 

from the banks of the Niger to the Mountains 
of the Moon, " Ethiopia is stretching forth 
her hands unto God ;" a voice is crying in 
the African wilderness, " Prepare ye the way 
of the Lord." " Say not ye. There are yet 
four months, and then cometh harvest? Be- 
hold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and 
look on the fields, for they are white already 
to harvest." 

What shall we say to these things? Say, 
sir ; why, we say that the world is going to 
be converted, and that right speedily. 

I know, however, that all this will be con- 
tested. You will be told of difficulties. You 
will be told that the Mohammedan cleaves to 
his Koran, and the Hindoo to his Shaster ; 
that the barbarous Hottentot is shut up in the 
incomprehensiblejargonofhis uncouth dialect; 
that infidelity spits its venom, and antichrist 
frowns its defiance. And what then ? Are 
young men to be appalled by difficulties? 
Are young men to quail before difficulties ? 
Perish the thought! No, sir, we will ven- 
ture to affirm that this is neither the creed 
nor the character of this youthful assembly. 
They have not so learned to underrate and 
depreciate the high missionary commission 



88 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

of Jesus Christ. Resting upon the sure word 
of prophecy, they believe that God will giv6 
the heathen to his Son for an inheritance, 
and the uttermost parts of the earth for his 
possession ; yea, that the stone cut out of the 
mountain without hands shall break in pieces 
the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and 
the gold become a great mountain and fill the 
wdiole earth. 

While, therefore, we take this immutable 
and elevated ground, candour compels us t(/ 
acknowledge that there are formidable obsta 
cles in the way, and wdsdom requires that we 
look them in the face. We have a few 
grave, yet honest considerations to submit, foi 
which, of course, we alone are responsible; 
and which we are persuaded will be judged 
according to their intrinsic merits. We in- 
tend no offence to any missionary society or 
missionary in existence. Our views are ge- 
neral, and are intended to bear upon the 
future rather than comment upon the past. 
Perhaps it may appear that our plans are ca- 
pable of improvement ; that we have not yet 
attained the manhood of missionary stature ; 
in a word, that this is but the silver age of 
the church. Under these convictions may I 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 89 

be allowed most respectfully to submit the fol* 
lowing questions : — First, Whether the pre- 
sent amount of missionary effort bears any 
adequate proportion to the resources of the 
Christian church, or the wants of the heathen 
world ? and, secondly, Whether the spiritual 
success of modern missionaries, as a whole, 
is at all commensurate with the amount 
of labour bestowed ? Sir, to both these ques- 
tions we are reluctantly but conscientiously 
compelled to answer. No. Is there not a 
cause ? Verily there is. Bear with us while 
we attempt to point it out. 

With regard to the jSrst question we in- 
quire. Does the missionary cause occupy that 
authoritative and commanding position in 
the estimate and conscience of the Christian 
church which the New Testament impera- 
tively demands ? Nay, sir, does it not take 
a secondary and subordinate place ? Is it 
not regarded in the light of a mere charity, 
depending more upon the popular excitement 
of good feeling than the fixed and deter- 
minate force of religious principle ? So that 
instead of being considered an integral part 
of the church militant, it is passed off as 
an adventitious and extempore benevolence, 



90 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

which may be doiiej or not done, at the mere 
option or caprice of the party. We affirm, 
sir, that until Tnissionary principle be more 
deeply lodged in the heart of the Christian 
church, our operations must be inevitably 
slow and irregular. . Depend upon it, sir, this 
is the reason why we witness so many morti- 
fying declensions and changes in our mis- 
sionary societies. We adopt the plausible no- 
tion that we must be first just to ourselves, 
and then generous to the heathen. We very 
ostentatiously strike the balance sheet of our 
accounts at home, and after allowing a Ben- 
jamin's portion for our own expenses, should 
there be, as it were by miracle, a small sur- 
plus, w^e very ceremoniously, in the sight and 
hearing of all Christendom, hand it over to 
the missionary treasury. Is this, I ask, doing 
unto others as we would they should do unto 
us ? Would we wish our spiritual mercies to 
be doled out by the same miserable measure? 
Is this loving our neighbour as ourselves ? I 
trow not ! 

With respect to the second question, will it 
not admit of a query, whether the Protestant 
churches have not rated the scale of mission- 
ary qualification too low; and instead of 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 91 

advancing the missionary character up to the 
fulness of the stature of the New Testament 
standard, have been disposed to make it su- 
bordinate to the pastoral calling at home? 
Else why such an outcry of opposition when 
one of our leading, talented ministers pro- 
poses to go out on missionary work ? Else 
why the prevailing opinion that inferior in- 
struments will do as well? Else why the 
disposition to send forth into the heathen w^orld 
young and inexperienced persons, male and 
female, who have not even been sufficiently 
tried and proved at home to be intrusted with 
any weighty responsibility ? We again repeat, 
that, in these remarks, we utterly disavow 
any intentional cause of offence, any personal 
reference, or any disposition to discourage the 
ardour of youthful enthusiasm. But truth 
compels us to express our honest apprehen- 
sion, that amid the blaze of popular excite- 
ment, and the splendour with which the 
distant and magnificent scenes of missionary 
enterprise are ever invested, many young and 
ardent minds, suffering their imagination to 
overrule their judgment, and their zeal to out- 
run their knowledge, have rushed upon a work 
for which they found, when it was too late, 



92 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

they were morally and spiritually unfit : thus 
disappointed in themselves, they have been a 
burden on the missionary cause, and a stum- 
bling block to the attempts of others. 

Sir, I know of no remedy for these things 
but a general diffusion of correct views of the 
missionary office and the missionary work. 
We must raise the standard of the mission- 
ary character. Raise it, did I say? Nay, 
sir, we have it raised already in the primi- 
tive instructions of our Lord to the twelve 
and the seventy, which stand forth in bold 
relief on the page of inspiration, as the eter- 
nal model for the study and practice of all 
future missionaries down to the end of time. 

With these impressions, sir, I deeply feel 
that in addressing this youthful assembly I 
cannot pursue a more interesting and in- 
structive topic than in attempting a brief 
sketch of such a New Testament missionary. 

And, sir, in this humble attempt, I feel that 
I am approaching no ordinary character. I 
hesitate not to say, that the heaven-called, 
heaven-inspired, and heaven-sent missionary 
of modern times, bears a close relation to the 
apostle of ancient days ; or, to say the least, 
is fully equivalent to the evangelist of the 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 93 

primitive church. Sir, he stands pre-eminent 
in the first order of the Christian ministry ; 
he towers above us all — bishops, elders, and 
deacons ; he is the chosen vessel to the Gen- 
tiles, the great spiritual pioneer in the wilder- 
ness of the heathen world. What, sir, can 
he be an ordinary, e very-day minister, who 
is sent by the Lord of the church to the Flat 
Head Indians in the far west, or to bear a 
message of mercy to Sego or Timbuctoo? 
He goes to lands " unknown to song," over 
which the foot of prophet or apostle never 
trod ; he goes to beard the lion in his den ; to 
grapple with the fierceness and obstinacy of 
paganism in all the primary elements of its 
native and gigantic strength. What, sir, can 
he be an ordinary character who, as the cho- 
sen champion of the Lord, advances to the 
attack in the teeth of the heaviest fire of the 
enemy's strongest batteries, and when the 
victory is ^von, is appointed to lay the broad 
foundations of the Christian empire abroad ? 

And now, sir, in all good conscience, and 
with all due solemnity, let me ask, Shall the 
Christian church intrust this momentous en- 
terprise to the raw conscripts of our camp, or 
demands it not the most experienced and 



94 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

determined veterans we can send forth? Else 
why did the Lord and Prince of all mission- 
aries call the fishermen of Galilee, men in 
Tniddle life, to this arduous work? Else 
why have the most successful reformers, aye, 
and missionaries too, been the veterans of the 
church ? Who can forget that Luther, and 
Knox, and Calvin, and the Wesleys, were 
not employed in the morning but in the me- 
ridian of their age? To which may be 
added, in the missionary field, a Carey, a 
Marshman, a Morrison, a Coke, and honour- 
able living names, connected with the mis- 
sions of our church in this country, the 
mention of whom propriety forbids : r)ien 
first trained at home in the regidar 7ni- 
nistry. and thus prepared for the higher du- 
ties and difficulties of missionary labour. I 
am aw^are, sir, that this position will be con- 
tested and confronted by the heroic and de- 
voted examples of a Henry Martyn, a David 
Brainerd, or a Harriet Newell ; but without 
questioning the correctness of their aid, or 
the ordinations of Providence, may we not 
innocently assume, that if the ardour of their 
youthful zeal had been chastened by a few 
years' discipline at home, they might have 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 95 

been yet more permanently useful abroad? 
May we not consider them as splendid ex- 
ceptions to the general rule? in the light of 
martyrs, offered up on the missionary altar 
to rouse the spirit of the church to the height 
and grandeur of this great enterprise? 

Let us then magnify the missionary office ; 
let the church feel its responsibility and duty; 
and let our young aspirants, contemplating 
this lofty character, press toward the mark 
of this high calling. 

We affirm, then, tliat the spiritual quali- 
fications of such a missionary should be 
scarcely less than apostolic. For if deep and 
genuine piety be indispensable to the pastoral 
office at home, how much more to the mis- 
sionary calling abroad ! Who can estimate 
the spiritual burden of the missionary stand- 
ing alone amid the dreary solitudes of the 
pagan world ? Who but himself knoweth 
the heart-rending trials, the soul-harassing 
temptations of such a life ? Separated from 
friends, and home, and country, cut off from 
the consolations of Christian fellowship, and 
the aids of ministerial counsel and religious 
ordinances ; a stranger in a strange land, 
begirt by an unknown tongue, surrounded by 



96 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

scenes of lust and bloody and opposed, and 
ridiculed, and threatened at every step of his 
work ; think you that the dwarfish piety of 
a modern religionist will sustain, or the ephe- 
meral fervours of youthful enthusiasm will 
endure the w^ear and tear of such a hercu- 
lean undertaking as this ? No, sir ; he who 
adventures forth to this dangerous and des- 
perate post must aspire after the apostoUc 
zeal and devotion xwhich adorned the primi- 
tive champions of the church. Is he the 
messenger of God? Then he must be a 
man of God. Is he the trumpet of the Lord 
to the nations ? Then he must be sanctified 
to the Master's use. Preaches he Christ cru- 
cified ? Then he himself must be crucified 
with Christ, baptized not only into the faith, 
but u?ito the death. He must possess resour- 
ces wilhin himself sufficient to sustain him 
single-handed against the combined powders 
of earth and hell. Though heart and flesh 
may fail, he must feel that God is the strength 
of his heart and his portion for ever. A vic- 
torious faith w^hich laughs at impossibilities ; 
a love omnipotent ; a zeal unquenchable ; an 
industry untiring ; a disinterestedness unim- 
peachable. He must have a lion's heart, and 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOTCMAN. 97 

an eagle's wing, and a serpent's wisdom^ and 
a dove-like chanty, which ^'beareth all things, 
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endur- 
eth all things." He must approve himself as 
a minister of God, "in much patience, in 
afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in 
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in la- 
bours, in watchings, in fastings; by pure- 
ness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by 
kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love un- 
feigned. By the word of truth, by the power 
Df God, by the armour of righteousness on 
/,he right hand and on the left. As sorrow- 
ful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor, yet making 
many rich ; as having nothing, and yet pos- 
sessing all things." 

As to the natural qualifications of such a 
missionary, we should say, Let him be a 
practical man rather than a theorist. Let 
him be formed in the school of the world ra- 
ther than the schools of philosophy. Let 
him have a body inured to labour, and a mind 
prompt to decide ; for rest assured his life 
will be a life of action rather than a life of 
contemplation. Not that we would exclude 
the aids of learning from the scale of mis- 
sionary qualifications. It has a place, and it 



98 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

ought to have a place. We cannot suffi- 
ciently acknowledge this important auxihary 
in the numerous translations of the Scrip- 
tuies. and in combating the errors of oriental 
skeptics: we intend not these general remarks 
to be interpreted as an exclusion of human 
learning fi'om our estimate of the missionary 
character, but still we insist that it must oc- 
cupy a secondary place ; ihe practical qua- 
lities of the missionary are the primary 
qualities. We had rather, sir. that our mis- 
sionary should possess good common sense 
than metaphysical acumen ; that he should 
resolve a case of conscience than a problem in 
Euclid : we had rather, sir. that he should 
know how to make shoes, or hats, or wag- 
ons, than acids or gas. We should be very 
sorry that our missionaries abroad should be 
reduced to follow trades for a subsistence ; but 
yet. if. in the interims of their public labours, 
they could occasionally instruct the heathen 
in the arts of civilized life ; if, for instance, 
while driving the gospel plough, they were 
at times to drive the agricultural plough ; if, 
while wielding the hammer of the word, they 
were now and then to take up the hammer 
of the forge, could they not then more con- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 99 

vincingly urge that delightful text, " Godli- 
ness is profitable to all things ?" We urge, 
then, the practical qualifications of the mis- 
sionary. St. Paul, in ancient times, with 
charming magnanimity, has set the illustri- 
ous example in working at Corinth as a tent 
maker ; and Barnabas Shaw, that noble- 
minded and devoted missionary of modern 
times, first built a pulpit with his own hands, 
and then had the double honour of preach- 
ing in it ; and hesitates not, when necessity 
requires, to ride round his circuit on the back 
of an ox. 

The missionary must be a man of deci- 
sion. He must be a man of one purpose. 
He must keep his eye singly fixed on the one 
great object, and all inferior things count but 
loss, so he may win the missionary crown. 
He is separated, devoted, and consecrated to 
this subhme and godUke work. In him the 
missionary spirit burns like fire, and the love 
of Christ is the master passion. He is deter- 
mined to know nothing save Jesus Christ, 
and him crucified. Forgetting the things 
which are behind, he presses toward the 
mark. He thirsts for souls, he pants for spi- 
ritual empire. He shuts his ears and steels 



100 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

his heart against the entreaties of friendship 
at home, or the anathemas of opposition 
abroad. His cry is, Onward ! Though 
mountains rear their rugged heads, and 
oceans roll their tempestuous surges, and pes- 
tilence breathes its deadly poison, yet, in the 
name of that divine Master whose he is, and 
whom he serves, he embarks his health, his 
reputation, his hopes, his interests, his life, his 
all, and having landed on the enemy's oppo- 
site shores, he disdains a retreat. Like the 
great Athenian commander, he burns the 
ships behind him, he draws the sword and 
throws away the scabbard, and, inscribing 
on his banners, "Victory or death," he rushes 
to the imminent deadly breach, and victori- 
ously scales the loftiest battlement of the 
enemy's strongest hold. 

Such, sir, is a brief and imperfect sketch 
of our New Testament missionary. Let it 
not be said that this is an imaginary charac- 
ter ; sir, we have the bold and graphic ori- 
ginal imbodied in the persons of St. Paul 
and his apostolic coadjutors. " These be the 
men that turn the w^orld upside down ;" — we 
pray God they may " come hither also." And 
cannot God raise up such missionary men 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 101 

aiHoiig US? We believe it, we expect it. 
What the great Head of the church has done 
before he can surely do again. Yes, sir, we 
believe that prior to the bursting glories of the 
millennial day, the breath of the eternal 
Spirit shall come from the four winds and 
breathe upon the church, and we shall behold 
^^ an exceeding great army" of such heaven- 
inspired, and heaven-quaUfied men, marching 
forth to the conquest of the heathen world. 

And who knows, sir, but among the juve- 
nile assembly I now address, some youthful 
spirit feels the thriUing touch of a live coal 
from the missionary altar ? Think not, my 
young friends, that because we have drawn 
a high portrait of missionary character, and 
faithfully depicted the rugged and stiff-necked 
work of missionary duty, that we wish to 
damp the generous ardours of your enthusi- 
asm. Our object is not to repress, but to 
regulate your zeal; not to quench, but to 
awaken and rouse up the magnanimity of 
your spirit to the elevation and magnitude of 
this lofty undertaking. 

Small and feeble is the missionary call in 
its beginnings, and humble its pretensions. 
Insignificant it may appear as the little glim- 



102 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

mering spark. Yet despise not the day of 
small things. Fanned by the Almighty Spi- 
rit, that little spark may increase to a pyra- 
mid of missionary flame. We are told of 
Samson, the mighty ZNazarite, under the old 
dispensation, that ^-the Spirit of the Lord 
began to move him at times in the camp of 
Dan, between Zorah and Ashtaol :'' and of 
John, the inspired Baptist, that '• the word 
of the Lord came to him in the wilderness :" 
so when the Spnit of the Lord begins to 
move the youthful disciple, though it be in 
his native village, or in his father's house, let 
him not resist but obey its movements. If 
the call be of God, it shall stand, and tri- 
umphantly outlive the floods of opposition. 
"Where shall he commence his mission ? Sir, 
let him beg;in at home. Let the school of 
missionary preparation be within the little 
circle of his own neighbourhood. As the 
blessed Jesus opened his ministry at Naza- 
reth, so let him, amid the opposition and ridi- 
cule of kinsfolk and acquaintance, test the 
validity of his spiritual call, and the strength 
and sincerity of his missionary feehngs. 
Thusj like the youthful David amid his 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 103 

father's flockj let him, in juvenile and local 
encounters with the lion and the bear, be 
qualifying for a sterner and more gigantic 
warfare. 

And depend upon it, sir, the Spirit of God 
will work in him mightily. The things of 
the flesh will decay and die, and the things 
of the Spirit will flourish and live. The life 
of faith will overwhelm and swallow up the 
life of sense. He wilt feel the power of a 
spiritual crucifixion to the world, and a spirit- 
ual resurrection with Christ. He will unlock 
his grasp on the things which are seen, and 
which are temporal, and fasten his soul on 
those things which are unseen, but which are 
eternal. The ties of home, and kindred, and 
country, will relax and dissolve before the 
melting, moving, omnipotent love of God 
and man. 

The missionary words of Jesus, " Go into 
all the w^orld and preach the gospel to every 
creature," will be imprinted in letters of fire 
on his heart. The piercing cry of the perish- 
ing heathen will wax louder and louder on 
his ear; the generous tumult of his bosom 
shall increase; he shall find no rest to his 



104 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

soul until God and the church call him 
directly to the field ; then shall he respond^ 
^' Here am I, send me." 

And away he goes, over land and over 
flood ; through fire and flame, storm and 
tempest, amid danger and death, daring the 
spirits of earth or gobhns damned. Behold 
him chmbing the Rocky Mountains, or rang- 
ing the banks of the Niger, and as he goes 
he cries aloud, he hfts up his voice Uke a 
trumpet ; he prays, he beseeches the guilty 
people to be reconciled to God. Here you 
may see him in the Indian wigwam, or yon- 
der in the African hut. Nothing dismays 
him. Barbarian despots may curse, tumultu- 
ous mobs may roar, onward he goes, and God 
is with him. The haughty tyrant trembles 
on his throne, and thousands are pricked to 
the heart, and the heathen temples are aban- 
doned, and the dumb idols are cast to the 
moles and the bats, and cowardly superstition 
skulks to her native dens and deserts, and 
amid the wreck and ruins of idolatry the 
faithful missionary plants the victorious cross, 
with this triumphant shout — '^ Thanks be to 
God which giveth us the victory through our 
Lord Jesus Christ.'' 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 105 

Servant of God, well done ! 

Rest from thy loved employ : 
The battle fought, the victory w^on. 

Enter thy Master's joy. 

His sv^ord was in his hand, 

Still warm with recent fight, 
Ready that moment, at command, 

Through rock and steel to smite. 

Oft with its fiery force 

His arm had quell'd the foe, 
And laid resistless in its course 

The ahen armies low. 

But on such glorious toils, 

The world to him was loss. 
Yet all his trophies, all his spoils. 

He hung upon the cross. 

At midnight came the cry, 

" To meet thy God prepare !" 
He woke and caught his Captain's eye • 

Then strong in faith and prayer, 

His spirit, with a bound, 

Left its encumbering clay, 
His tent, at sunrise, on the ground, 

A darkened ruin lay. 

Soldier of Christ, well done ! 

Praise be thy new employ : 
And while eternal ages run, 

Rest in thy Saviour's joy. 



106 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

SUBSTANCE OF A SPEECH 

Delivered at the Anniversary of the New- York Sun- 
day School Union of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, on Wednesday evening, Oct. 31, 1832. 

Mr. Chairman,— In the year 1735 two 

most extraordinary personages appeared in the 
two most enhghtened cities of the old w^orld. 
In talents and activity they were nearly 
equal, but in project directly opposed. Des- 
tined to accomplish tw^o amazing moral revo- 
lutions, they appeared on the great theatre of 
public life as mighty antagonists ; and the 
object for which they w^ere about to grapple 
was no ordinary one, — it was no mere ques- 
tion of politics or literature, but it was a deci- 
sive struggle upon the awful alternative — 
w^iether error should triumph over truth, 
whether Atheism or Christianity should exist. 
Sir, I refer to Voltaire and John Wesley. 
The world stood by to behold the contest. 
Here was the apostle of Heaven — ^there, the 
emissary of hell. Each champion exhibited an 
entire devoted ness to his cause ; each was a 
perfect master of his w^eapons ; each knew^ the 
arts of popular address ; each had the advant- 
age of protracted hfe to accomplish his purposes. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 107 

Voltairej like his father, the devil, cloaked 
his designs under the most insidious hypoc- 
lisy. In open, outside profession, he was 
friendly to virtue and religion ; while the se- 
cret watchword of his party was, " Strike, but 
conceal the hand." Crafty, bold, and design- 
ing, he employed every artifice to accomplish 
his diabolical purpose. He tumbled down 
the bulwarks of virtue, and advocated the 
unrestrained indulgence of the passions : he 
flattered the vanity of human nature, and 
exalted reason into a goddess. A system so 
congenial to our fallen nature was sure to 
have its followers, especially when that sys- 
tem was adorned with the attractions of 
learning and of genius. 

Accordingly, the philosophers of France 
crowded to the side of Voltaire ; forty thou- 
sand infidel clubs were established in that 
country ; wealth and nobiHty patronized this 
arch infidel : in Paris he was honoured with 
a public triumph, and royalty itself was 
ranked among his disciples. In short, sir, a 
blind infatuation possessed the people. Reli- 
gion, morality, and order, were laughed out 
of countenance. The majesty of God wag 
insulted in his own temples, while the proph- 



108 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

ets of infidelity confidently predicted the glo- 
rious era of reason and liberty. That era 
arrived. The principle of infidehty had a 
fair trial upon an extensive scale. The cup 
of God's vengeance was full, and tremendous 
was the comment read to a trembUng world. 
The kingdom was torn up to its foundations 
— the throne overturned — nobility banished 
— priesthood overwhelmed — king murdered 
■ — virtue proscribed — all the bonds of civil 
society burst asunder — and France, hke a 
huge volcano, from the confliction of its boil- 
ing and heterogeneous elements, belched forth 
fire and flame, while from its deep-mouthed 
crater rose aloft the gigantic demon of infi- 
dehty, the dark magician, the ruling spirit of 
the whirlwind and the storm, smiting with 
his withering rod '-whatsoever things are 
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatso- 
ever things are just, whatsoever things are 
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatso- 
ever things are of good report." 

Here, sir, let us pause and mark the finger 
of God. While Voltaire was fostering the 
elements of that fearful tragedy, a counter 
revolution was in opejation, and, under 
the blessmg of almighty God, a deep and 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 109 

extensive revival of primitive religion com- 
menced in England, which continues to this 
day. 

The great instrument of that revival was 
John Wesley. Wesley, by education a high 
churchman, and by profession a scholar, was 
a staunch asserter of church order and hte- 
rary formula; and had it been foretold to 
him, in early life, that he should hereafter 
not only preach without book, in the streets, 
himself, but actually send forth others also — 
it is probable that he would have replied in 
the language of Hazael, ^' Is thy servant a 
dog, that he should do this great thing?" In- 
deed, he seems to have entertained no pre- 
concerted design, but calculated on ending 
his days amid the pious and fascinating se- 
clusion of a college life. But God's ways are 
not as our ways, and he was led by a way 
that he knew not of Behold this child of 
Providence going forth to convert the Indians 
of America, and then returning home with 
the conviction that he himself was uncon- 
verted. And when, through the instrument- 
ality of the pious Moravians, it pleased God 
to reveal his Son in him — immediately he 
conferred not with flesh and blood, but boldly 



110 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

preached to others that saving truth he had 
himself experienced. His was not the crool^ed 
and serpentine policy of Voltaire, but, as an 
honest man, he declared with faithful vehe- 
mence the uncompromising, unfashionable 
precepts of the gospel He appealed not to 
the vanity or pride of man, but smote them 
to the dust. He rested not his cause in the 
attractions of his genius, or the variety of 
his learning — all these things he renounced ; 
in this respect he became ^'a fool for Christ's 
sake," humbling himself to the simphcity of 
a little child, that he might save some, and 
bring glory to God. 

And, sir, at a period of time when vital 
Christianity was almost extinct, Wesley, in 
the name of his divine Master, boldly stepped 
forth, and firmly withstood the rolling tide of 
corruption, proclaiming the powerful, regene- 
rating doctrines of Christ's religion. The fash- 
ionable jeered, the learned despised, the vulgar 
persecuted. The churches were closed against 
him — he stood almost alone — the butt of pub- 
lic scorn. But was he ashamed of the gos- 
pel of Christ ? No, sir, he set his face as a 
flint. The wide world is before him, and 
the world becomes his parish : to the poor 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. Ill 

the gospel is preachedj and to the poor he 
makes his appeal. He goes forth, and on the 
highways and by the hedges — in iSelds and 
market-places — at all seasons, in all weathers, 
amid hootings, peltings, and outrages, he pro- 
claims free salvation to a lost world. And, 
sir, was his preaching in vain ? Let the col- 
hers of Kingswood and New^castle — let the 
miners of Cornwall — let the tens of thou- 
sands of departed saints in glory — let the 
eight hundred and My thousand living wit- 
nesses in the old and the new world answer 
the question. 

Glory to God ! the Spirit has been poured 
forth, and we witness a revival of vital 
Christianity, which in purity, depth, energy, 
and rationality, has no parallel since the days 
of the apostles. Almighty God has raised 
up a great missionary people to co-operate 
vigorously in the approaching salvation of 
the world. 

And will it be said, sir, that Methodism so 
called has exercised no salutary influence 
upon the social and political condition of the 
nations ? What, sir, has the salt of divine 
grace, thus freely scattered, and faithfully ap- 
plied, had no healing virtue upon the festering 



112 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

ulcers of the body politic? or in quenching' 
the raging fires of anarcliy and infidelity ? 

The principles of Voltaire stand identified 
on the historic page with treason, persecution, 
and murder. The principles of John Wes- 
le}^ will stand identified with pati'iotism, tole- 
ration, and human security. We triumph- 
antly challenge the world on this subject. 
When has Methodism ever stood connected 
with rebellion or political combination ? What 
act of bloody persecution has ever disfigured 
the annals of our church? Nay, sir, we go 
farther ; we affirm that if Britain and Ame- 
rica outrode that tremendous revolutionary 
storm, which scattered far and wide the 
wrecks of continental nations, we fearlessly 
attribute such salvation to the exclusive influ- 
ence of Christian principles, and the blessing 
of God upon Christian nations. 

And now, sir, nearly a century has elapsed 
since these two extraordinary personages com- 
menced their public career, and above forty 
years have passed away since Wesley slept 
with his fathers. But though dead, they yet 
speak in their characters and writings. The 
opposing principles and movements of their 
respective systems exist in undiminished vi- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 113 

goiir, and advance with unparalleled rapidity. 
Methodism has compassed both Indies, reached 
the four continents, visited the islands of the 
sea, and overran the whole civilized surface 
of North America. In all climates, under 
various opposition, among men of all colours, 
distinctions, and languages, it has proved 
itself to be a revival of New Testament reli- 
gion, the work of God in the salvation of im- 
mortal souls ; and it remains for us, as the 
true sons of the illustrious Wesley, to say 
whether, treading in his footsteps, we will 
consolidate what we have attained ; secure 
the conquest we have won : whether, in a 
word, we will add to our zeal knowledge^ 
by cidtivatiug and fencings as well as 
clearings the great field of the world. 

But, sir, if Christianity be on the advance, 
so is infidelity. Has the wheat sprung up 
luxuriantly? so have the tares. We affirm 
that the civilized world is rife with infidelity, 
and society, through all its elements, is sur- 
charged with this deadly poison. This is 
attributable to a variety of causes. In conti- 
nental Europe the victorious and sweeping 
onset of the French armies into almost every 
kingdom, carried with them, universally, the 



114 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

doctrines of Voltaire. This may be consi- 
dered the seed time of infidelity — and the 
comparative peace which Europe has enjoyed 
for the last sixteen years, affording leisure to 
the public mind, and opportunity for the rapid 
circulation of infidel publicationsj has luxuri- 
ated into a plentiful and prodigious harvest. 
Nor, sir, has it rioted merely amid the over- 
grown corruptions of the old world ; it hag 
crossed the Atlantic, and, like an ill-omened 
bird of night, has croaked amid the benign 
institutions of this happy republic. It has poi- 
soned the fountains of our Uterature, contami- 
nated the halls of legislation, and the temples 
of religion ; yea, in our very stages and 
steamboats we encounter the monster with a 
dog's face and a serpent's tongue. Nay, sir, 
it has appeared among us in a unique and 
unprecedented form — even the form of a wo- 
man — teaching us the knowledge of evil. 
Yes, sir, strange to tell, infidelity in petti- 
coats has marched through the land — fitly 
typified by that scarlet-coloured personage in 
the Apocalypse, who, sitting upon the waters, 
vented her venom spleen against the living 
God. 
But, sir, the strangest feature in the history 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 115 

of the present day is the unnatural coalition 
which is now actually taking place between 
infidelity and popery. We confidently affirm, 
sir, that the devil, knowing that his time is 
short, is effecting an unholy aUiance, an in- 
fernal confederation, between these two oppo- 
site powers. There are, however, between 
them points of affinity. They each tolerate 
error, and persecute the truth, and deny the 
real Saviour. Like Pilot and Herod, they 
are combining against the Lord of glory. 
And, sir, we anticipate an awful crisis, a 
final and decisive struggle; a time to try 
men's souls, in which every religious com- 
munity in Christendom shall be sifted as 
wheat. 

Nevertheless, we dread not the result. The 
eternal promise stands for ever sure, that 
the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
the church of Christ. We peculiarly recog- 
nise the cheering words of the prophet, 
spoken, indeed, to Ahaz, but applicable to 
us: — "Take heed and be quiet, fear not, 
neither be faint hearted for the two tails 
of these smoking firebrands ; thus saith the 
Lord God, it shall not stand, neither shall it 
come to pass." 



116 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Nor, sir, are we extravagant in our antici- 
pations. We ground our hope of final vic- 
tory from this pleasing consideration — that 
cotemporary with the French revolution it 
pleased almighty God to raise up two mighty 
spiritual agencies to counterwork the designs 
of antichrist : I refer, in the first place, to the 
institution of sabbath schools, and in the 
second, to the estaWishment of the British 
and Foreign Bible Society. The one fur- 
nishes the weapons, and the other trains and 
regiments the troops. Let the word of God, 
the sword of ethereal temper, be placed in the 
hands of the men of God, and they shall be 
mighty to the pulling down of the strong- 
holds of the wicked one. " Many shall run 
to and fro, and knowledge shall be in- 
creased ;" and rest assured, sir, that Bible 
principles, taught and enforced by Bible 
Christians, will clear the world both of super- 
stition and infidelity. Sir, the time has come 
when the daring spirits of the " sacramental 
host of God's elect" must throw themselves 
into the Thermopylae of the Christian church, 
and defend the pass against the combined 
forces of the prince of this world. The work, 
sir, is spiritual and requires spiritual men. It 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 117 

is not so much the infidelity of the head we 
have to encounter — neither must we contest 
the matter with weapons of metaphysical 
subtlety — this would be to fight Goliah in 
Saul's armour. It is, sir, the infidelity of the 
hearty and to storm this strong-hold demands 
men full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Such 
spiritual men we have — trained in sabbath 
schools, and competent, under God, to the 
conquest of the world. 

But, sir, before I close my observations, 
truth and candour compel me to state, that 
in the way of the accomplishment of this 
glorious consummation there exists a formi- 
dable impediment. I refer, sir, to the prevalence 
of that latitudinarian spirit now operating in 
the Protestant churches; a spirit which too 
frequently compromises the integrity of Chris- 
tian principle, and, consequently, neutrahzes 
the decisive force of Christian action. 

Permit me, sir, to illustrate my meaning. 
It was announced some years ago that old 
Bigotry was dead and fairly buried. I am 
sorry to be under the necessity of informing 
this audience that it has been discovered of 
late that he left behind him an only child — a 
prodigal son, who is arrived at man's estate. 



118 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

This son is known by the name of Liberal- 
ism. Young Liberahsm is the very antipo- 
des of his old father. He is handsome, polite, 
insinuating — and, although somewhat super- 
ficial, possesses that polish and tact which 
impose upon general observers. He speaks 
all languages, subscribes to all creeds, holds 
a levee with all sects and parties, is friendly 
wdth every body, but stands identified with 
nobody. He professes to abhor religious 
controversy, and disposes of all doctrinal 
questions by a motion of indefinite postpone- 
ment. He can swallow^ the wafer with the 
Papist, receive the cup with the Protestant, 
and thrust the Westminster Confession and 
the Methodist Discipline into the same pocket. 
You can never find Liberalism at home, or, 
rather, ''he is never at home but when from 
home." He sails all waters under all colours ; 
he exhibits the papers of all nations, but he 
hails to no port, he charters to no country — 
and, therefore, we strongly suspect that he is, 
in reality, a pirate. 

In a word, sir, to speak without a figure, 
we are fully of the judgment that this spuri- 
ous hberalism is a grand obstacle in the way 
of the conversion of the world. Truth, sir^. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 119 

is unique, and, to be efficient, must stand 
forth in all its prominent peculiarities. If you 
soften down her features, you destroy her 
beauty and paralyze her usefulness. We 
believe that, in the present constitution of the 
church, the armngement of sects and parties 
is, upon the whole, for the best. It checks 
the growth of heresy, excites a spirited com- 
petition, and prevents the aggrandizement of 
ecclesiastical domination. There was a time 
when we thought otherwise, particularly in 
its application to our sabbath schools ; when 
we supposed it to be unwise to introduce doc- 
trinal peculiarities into the minds of children, 
and that a liberahzing system would be for 
the better. But, sir, we see our error and 
confess it. We dare not mitigate the matter ; 
we must teach the whole truth. The infi- 
del spirit of the times demands that we hold 
fast the form of sound words. Our children 
require this at our hands. 

BeUeving the doctrines of Methodism to be 
tlie nearest approach to truth, we honestly 
inculcate them in all their native peculiarities, 
We deny not that our dissenting fellow 
Christians have, in the main, truth substan- 
tial — but we think we have truth distinctive. 



120 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

And, sir, we wish our sword to be keenly set, 
two-edged, and sharp-pointed. 

We are aware, sir, that the fashionable 
leberalism of the times will ridicule our Meth- 
odistic tenacity. Be it so, we are content to 
bear our burden. We have heard, also, the 
jeering of infidelity in reference to sabbath 
schools ; they have been styled a baby insti- 
tution, and our labours, children's play. But 
time will prove all things. Let infidels re- 
member that Hercules was once a baby, 
rocked in his cradle, and Samson was once 
a little child, — but, sir, the day is not very 
far distant, and infidels, too, may live to see 
it, when this now desjnsed little child, wax- 
ing mighty with the advance of rolling years, 
shall, with gigantic force, grasp with one 
hand the pillar of infidelity, and with the 
oth^r the pillar of superstition, and, call- 
ing on the name of Samson's God, shall 
shake the fabric of error into a thousand 
atoms. 

In conclusion we would say, "The best 
of all is, God is with us" — and so confident are 
we of ultimate success, that we feel con- 
strained, this night, from the bulwarks and 
towers of our Sunday school Zion, to shout 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 121 

aloud, in the exulting language of the royal 
psalmist, — " Hallelujah ! The Lord God 
omnipotent reigneth.'' 



centenary address. 

Mr. Chairman and Christian Friends,-— 
It was, if my memory serve me, on a bright 
and beautiful evening in the summer of 
the year 1821 that three young gentlemen 
might have been seen standing in Ep- 
worth church-yard on the tomb of Wesley's 
father. They had gone on a pilgrimage to 
the village of Epworth, the birth-place of 
John Wesley. Above their heads arose that 
venerable pile, the parish church of Epworth, 
in which he was presented at the baptismal 
font by his illustrious mother, and consecrated 
to God, the church, and the world. In the 
neighbouring distance might be seen the site 
of the ancient parsonage in which he first 
drew his breath, and around the green fields, 
with their rich and verdant landscape, in 
which he spent the joyous days of infancy 
and childhood. And on the very tomb-stone 
they were now occupying they recollected 



122 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Wesley himself had stood upward of half a 
century before, and preached to listening 
thousands the unsearchable riches of Christ. 
Oj sir, it was an hour of hallowed inspiration, 
never to be forgotten. One of the young 
gentlemen involuntarily exclaimed, "May 
the spirit of Wesley descend upon us !" 
Whether that exclamation were prophetic it 
is not for me to say, but certain it is, that 
within a comparatively short space of time 
these three young gentlemen were called by 
the Spirit to the work of the Christian mi- 
nistry. One is now a missionary in Canada, 
another a minister of the Baptist denomina- 
tion in England, and the third the humble 
individual who has now the honour to 
address this meeting. 

Sir, although eighteen years have passed 
away since your speaker stood upon that 
sainted spot, yet the sublime and holy enthu- 
siasm of that moment lives and burns in this 
heart as intensely as ever : and surely if 
any circumstance might give expansion and 
vigour to the emotion, it is the inspiring fact 
that he who stood eighteen years ago on the 
tomb-stone of Wesley's father, now in this, 
the hundredth year of Methodism^ finds him- 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 123 

self standing in John-street churchy the birth- 
j)lace of American Methodism^ surrounded 
by a multitude of its warmest friends. What 
hath God wrought! Surely, sir, we may 
sing, 

** When he first the work began, 
Small and feeble was his day." 

Yes, sir, while in imagination's bright crea- 
tion I see the parsonage of Epworth on fire, 
and in yonder window a little boy enveloped 
in the raging flames, and crying aloud for 
help, I involuntarily exclaim, " Who is that 
boy V and the reply is, " Yon is little John 
Wesley, — yonder is the boy who will set the 
world on fire ; yonder is the boy that, under 
God, will make a stronger impression upon 
the public mind, and public morals, than all 
the philosophers who have ever written, or 
the legislators who have ever governed." For, 
sir, the little plant of Methodism which was 
placed by his hand as a root in a dry ground, 
amid the scoffs and persecution of the world, 
has become a most magnificent tree, throwing 
its wide-spreading branches over the conti- 
nents of the earth, and the islands of the 
sea, and in this, the first centenary^ more 
than a million of happy, rejoicing Methodists, 



124 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIOxVS, 

from ^' Greenland's icy mountain to India's 
coral strand/' will, beneath its friendly shade, 
raise the loud and triumphant song of " Glory 
to God in the highest, peace on earth, and 
good will to men." 

It is not my intention to pronounce any 
panegyric on Mr. Wesley, but rather to glo- 
rify the grace of God in him. We regard 
him as an eminent instrument employed by 
divine Providence for the good of mankind. 
The history of Methodism as identified with 
that of John Wesley is a bright page in the 
mysterious book of Providence. Was it not 
providential that he was born lohen he was, 
where he was, what he was? Was it not 
providential that he descended from an ho- 
nourable and pious ancestry? that he was the 
happy son of so excellent and talented a 
mother? that, like most great and good men, 
he had a great and good mother? and, 
although speaking of Mrs. Susanna Wesley, 
we are not prepared to go the same length as 
Dr. Adam Clarke, ^' that she was the great- 
est of all the daughters of Eve," yet we may 
affirm that the Methodism of Mr. Wesley's 
mind and habits was laid by the early sys- 
tematic training of his mother. And; sir, it 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 125 

is no inconsiderable proof of the hand of an 
QverruUng Providence, that Mr. Wesley had 
the advantages of an academic and collegiate 
education. I thank God, sir, that John Wes- 
ley was a college student^ that he sharpened 
his wits on the Oxford grindstone, that in 
the great emporium of British erudition he 
forged and polished those weapons of intel- 
lectual warfare by which, in future, he was 
able to reason with the lofty prejudices of the 
stall-fed prelate, or detect the sophistries of the 
skeptic. For, sir, it ought to be remembered 
that Mr. Wesley was not only one of the 
most successful preachers, but one of the 
most industrious writers and extensive 
publishers of his day. He wrote largely on 
almost every subject — history, criticism, phi- 
losophy, as well as theology, and wrote well; 
and wrote not for fame or for money, but for 
the illumination and elevation of the mass 
of the people. He could appear to advantage 
in a two-penny pamphlet or in a royal octavo : 
from his little tract on " Primitive Physic" to 
his "Christian Library" in fifty volumes, we 
see the versatility of his taste, the comprehen- 
sion of his views, the energy of his applica- 
tion. 



126 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

Nor is it unworthy of a passing remark, 
that Methodism came into existence in the 
Augustan age of English literature^ that 
Mr. Wesley was contemporary with Dr. Sa- 
muel Johnson, with the Burkes, the Gold- 
smiths, the Garricks, the Chesterfields, of 
that remarkable period, with several of w4iom 
he enjoyed a personal friendship, and thus 
Methodism, so called, had to pass the fiery 
ordeal of powerful and penetrating genius. 

Well, sir, it was in the commencement of 
the eighteenth century that a handful of Ox- 
ford students came to the conclusion that if 
the Bible were true, real Christianity was a 
very different thing from the popular religion 
of the day. To promote the one grand ob- 
ject they laid down rules for reading the 
Scriptures, conversation, prayer, meditation, 
fasting, and visiting the sick. Their precision 
attracted the attention of a wag of a student, 
who facetiously remarked one day, "A new 
sect of Methodists has arisen among us," and 
from this satirical remark, a byword^ a nick- 
name^ arose this famous cognomen, "Meth- 
odist." But what's in a name? "Arose 
would smell as sweet by any other name." 

It was no inconsiderable link in the chain 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 127 

of secoQd causes that Mr. Wesley should 
have been so early associated with that sin- 
gular man, Mr. Law, the author of the Seri- 
ous Call. This Law was a severe but salu- 
tary schoolmaster to bring Mr. Wesley to 
Christ. Full of strong moral convictions 
and honest zeal, and good intentions, behold 
our young churchman embarking for Geor- 
gia to convert the North American Indians, 
and, before half way across the Atlantic, dis- 
covering, through the aid of a few pious Ger- 
man Moravians, to his consternation, that he 
w^as unconverted himself. Finally, behold 
him, led on by Peter Bohler, the Moravian, 
his spiritual father^ from one step to an- 
other, until finally he says, while at a meet- 
ing in Aldersgate-street, London, as one was 
reading Luther's preface to the Galatians, " / 
felt my heart strangely warm^edr Thatj 
sir, was Methodism, I there was the kindling 
of a fire which, I trust, will glow and run until 

" Heaven's last thunder shakes the world below." 
And in all his subsequent history, in his ex- 
pulsion from the Established Church, in his 
out-door and field preaching, in the origin of 
class-meetings, the employment of lay preach- 
ers, the settlement of the poll deed, securing 



128 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

the chapels for ever to the itinerancy of 
Methodism^ thus perpetuating the system, 
binding it equally upon preachers and peo- 
ple, we see not the wisdom and policy of 
man, but the wisdom and power of God. 

But what is Methodism ? To this oft-re- 
peated question, and to the many explana- 
tions which have been offered, permit us to 
give a definition of our own. And, first, we 
w^ould answer the question negatively, by re- 
marking. Methodis7n. so called^ is not a 
sect. The announcement of Mr. Wesley at 
the outset of his career was anti-sectarian^ 
and has been fulfilled to the very letter, 
" The world is my parish.'' Mr. Wes- 
ley ever disowned all idea of forming a mere 
sect. He intended that Methodism should be 
a nucleus to radiate light and heat through- 
out all the churches. And then it was no 
uncommon circumstance for persons to be in 
communion with the Established Church, or 
of the dissenting denominations, and yet 
meet in class among the Methodists. Thus 
Mr. Wesley lived and died a member of the 
Church of England, nor have the Yv^esleyan 
Methodists ever formally withdrawn from the 
Establishment. Our pulpits and altars are 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 129 

anti-sectarian^ admitting all evangelical mi- 
nisters to the former^ and members of other 
churches to the latter ^ setting forth on this 
subject an example of Christian liberality 
which it would be well for some churches to 
imitate who charge us continually with secta- 
rianism. 

Methodism is not a form,. It has 
always adapted itself to pi'ovidential circum- 
stances, and practised the doctrine of Chris- 
tian expediency. Less anxious about non- 
essentials, it has laboured at the substance of 
religion. It has waived a controversy about 
forms, but contended manfully for the power 
of godliness. It has laid less stress on the 
straight coat, and smooth, slippery bonnet, 
but more upon the right state of the heart 
within, and the evidence of the life without. 
Mr. Wesley was no ways scrupulous; he 
could preach at St. PauFs or St. Bartholo- 
mew's Fair^ in a mahogany pulpit or on a 
horseblock, under a tree or upon a mountain. 
And his sons are hke him. They can preach 
in a surplice, or in their shirt sleeves, in 
pewed or free churches, with notes or with- 
out. It is of very Uttle consequence to them ; 
they know Methodism will and m/ust go^ 



130 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

either on foot or on horseback, by steam or 
on wheels, no matter. And here let me ani- 
madvert upon a certain class of deplorable 
croakers^ who, looking at mere forms, are for 
ever complaining about departures from what 
they are pleased to call good old Methodism. 
Good old Methodism^ indeed! And is 
good old Methodism susceptible of no im- 
provement? If our noble fathers, in the 
days of their poverty, walked^ is that any 
sufficient reason why we, their sons, now 
that we can afford it, should not ride? 
What ! sir, shall we be so wedded to old pre- 
judices that we must travel in the old Penn- 
sylvania wagon, at the rate of two miles an 
hour, when all the world is flying by steam? 
Shall we, like the redoubtable navigators of 
"New-Amsterdam," creep along by day, 
sleeping by night, and making the Atlantic 
voyage at the rate of once in three months, 
when the modern steam ship makes the pas- 
sage in thirteen days? No, verily ! put Meth- 
odism on the railroad, let it have steam 
power, and fly with the foremost to the very 
ends of the earth. I trust, sir, Methodism 
will ever repudiate all such prejudices, and 
keep pace with the spirit of the age. 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 131 

Methodism is not an opinion. It de- 
mands no previous test of opinions, but 
one only condition, '^a desire to flee from 
the wrath to come, and to be saved from 
sin." The magnanimous language of Mr. 
Wesley was, "Away with opinions; if thy 
heart is as my heart, give me thy hand." 

What J then^ is Methodism? And we 
answer, 

Methodism is a spirit. It is the spirit of 
Bible truth and Christian charity imbodied 
and defined in the mind, the heart, the cha- 
racter, the habits, the labours of that remark- 
able man, John Wesley, and from him 
expanded to upward of a million other minds 
and hearts, making upon them the imprint 
of his sentiments and doctrines, the light of 
his example, the impulse of his zeal. 

And what is this spirit? We answer, 
" Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the 
Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." Thaty 
sir, is Methodism. 

What is Methodism? Methodism, sir, 
is a revival of primitive New Testam>ent 
religion^ such as glowed in the bosom and 
was seen in the lives of the apostles and 
martyrs. 



132 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

It is a revival of the vital, fundamental 
doctrines of the Christian faith. 

It is a revival of the original New Tes- 
tament organizatio7i, particularly in restor- 
ing the itinerancy and brotherhood of the 
ministry, and the right administration of 
church discipline. 

It is a revival of the social spirit, the free 
and ancient manner of social worship. 

It is, above all, a revival of the mission- 
ary spirit, which, not content with a mere 
defensive warfare upon Zion's walls, goes 
forth aggressively, under the eternal pro- 
mise, to the conquest of the world. 

Sir, I can never think of the great revival 
of religion which took place within the 
Church of England one hundred years ago, 
without having before me the image of some 
ancient cathedral, with its lofty aisles and 
vaulted roof, and in the very centre of the 
marble-paved floor I see a few shivering, 
decrepit old people endeavouring vainly to 
warm themselves over the flickering embers of 
an expiring fire, and, while indulging feelings 
of pity and commiseration, I see a brisk, 
sprightly little man enter, and, with charac- 
teristic promptitude and zeal, he begins to 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 133 

stir up the fire, — that little man is John Wes- 
ley. While he is thus engaged I see the 
saintly Fletcher approach with an armful of 
faggots and throw them on the brightening 
flame; and presently I see approach, with 
eager steps, a bluff and portly personage ; his 
name is George Whitefield, and he begins to 
blow, and blow mightily, and the fire begins 
to kindle ; and, as the towering flame illu- 
mines and warms the church, I see Charles 
Wesley, the sweet singer of Methodism, take 
his harp, and, as he touches the strings with 
a more than mortal inspiration, I hear the 
joyous strain, — 

*' See how great a flame aspires, 
Kindled by a spark of grace ; 
Jesus' love the nations fires, 
Sets the kingdoms in a blaze. r > 

To bring fire on earth he came, 

Kindled in some hearts it is ; 
O, that all might catch the flame, 

All partake the glorious bliss." 

Methodism repeats the word of command 
i^h rough all her ranks, first issued by the great 
Lord and Captain of the " sacramental host ;" 
she says, "Gro — go ye into all the world." 
And, blessed be God, her sons ohey^ and 
inarch. 



134 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

If, then, sir, this be a true version of Meth- 
odism, and I am still pressed with the ques- 
tion, '^ What is the grand characteristic, the 
distinctive peculiarity of Methodism ?" I would 
answer, It is to be found in one single word, 
ITINERANCY. Ycs, sir, tMs^ under God, is 
the mighty spring of our motive power, the 
true secret of our unparalleled success. Stop 
the itinerancy.^ let Congregationalism pre- 
vail for only twelve vionths^ — Samson is 
shorn of his locks, a?id we become as other 
me?!. Sir, here I would make a central posi- 
tioU; here lay the utmost stress. This is a 
vital point, in the maintejiance of which we, 
as a people, stand or fall. In the establish- 
ment of this position allow me to borrow the 
light of an illustration. 

In considering, some time ago, that beau- 
tiful text, '^All things work together for 
good," I found the apostle explaining, in a 
previous chapter, hoiv the -'all ihmgs'\vorked. 
He says, '-Tribulation worketh patience, and 
patience experience, and experience hope." 
Now, sir, it occurred to me that these things 
all worked to a delightful result, after the 
manner of wheels in beautiful co-operation, 
as in Ezekiel's vision. Tribulation may be 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 135 

compared to the great iron wheels where, by 
the divine blessing, the gracious power is 
first felt and attained. To this great iron 
wheel there is attached a smaller brazen 
wheels which we may denominate "patience^ 
and as the great iron wheel moves around, 
lo, the brazen wheel begins to move also ; to 
this we see a bright silver wheels which is 
styled experience^ which, moved by the two 
former, commences and continues its bright 
and rapid revolution; and yet, beyond all 
these, there is a splendid golden ivheel, 
w^hich is fitly styled hope, and over this is 
thrown the gospel rope of exceeding precious 
promises, upon which, if a man hold fast and 
never let go, it will wind him up to glory. 
Now, sir, let us apply this to Methodism. The 
great iron wheel in the system is itineran- 
cy, and truly it grinds some of us most tre- 
mendously ; the brazen wheel, attached and 
kept in motion by the former, is the local 
ministry ; the silver wheel, the class lead- 
ers ; the golden wheel, the doctrine and 
discipline of the church, in full and success- 
ful operation. Now, sir, it is evident that the 
entire movement depends upon keeping the 
great iron ivheel of itinerancy constantly 



136 SPEECHES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

and rapidly rolling round. But, to be more 
specific, and to make an application of this 
figure to American Methodism. Let us care- 
fully note the admirable and astounding 
movements of this wonderful machine. You 
will perceive there are " wheels within 
wheels." First, there is the great outer 
wheel of episcopacy, which accomplishes its 
entire revolution once in four years. To 
this there are attached twenty-eight smaller 
wheels^ styled annual conferences^ moving 
around once a year ; to these are attached 
one hundred loheels^ designated presiding 
elders^ moving twelve hundred other wheels^ 
termed quarterly conferences^ every three 
months ; to these are attached four thousand 
rvhcels, styled travelling preachers^ moving 
round once a months and communicating 
motion to thirty thousand wheels, called 
class leaders^ moving round once a week^ 
and who, in turn, being attached to between 
seven and eight hundred thousand wheels^ 
called members^ give a sufficient impulse to 
whirl them round every day. O, sir, what 
a machine is this ! This is the machine of 
which Archimedes only dreamed ; this is the 
machine destined, under God^ to Tnove the 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 137 

worlds to turn it upside down. But, sir, 
you will readily see the whole success of the 
operation depends upon keeping the great 
iron wheel of itinerancy in motion. It 
must be as unincumbered and free as possi- 
ble. To accomplish this has ever been our 
main difficulty and hinderance, and if ever 
this machine stop it will be because the great 
wheel is clogged. The provision for the sup- 
port of the ministry is insufficient, the funds 
for the support of the worn-out preachers 
meagre, the temptations to location strong 
and pressing. 

Let me furnish you with a startling fact. 
At the close of the second volume of that ex- 
cellent History of the Methodist Episcopal 
Clmrch, by Dr. Bangs, you will find the 
names of all the preachers who were admit- 
ted into the conferences between the years 
1767 and 1813, and the names of those who 
have located. I took the trouble the other 
day to count them up, and find, in a period 
of 46 years, that 1616 were admitted. Now 
how many of these left the ranks of the 
ministry? Why, sir, it is hardly credible, 
but we have it in figures, an undeniable but 
astounding fact, that 819 ! of these located, 



138 SPEECPIES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, 

leaving only 797 in the regular ranks. Now, 
sir, will any man tell me that these men bad 
less devotedness and zeal than our transat- 
lantic brethren, among whom locations are 
delightfully rare ? Was it because they -were 
tired or ashamed of the work ? No, sir, it 
was necessity^ dire necessity^ arising out of 
the feebleness and inefficiency of our finan- 
cial system. They found it impossible, out 
of their poor pittance, after feeding and cloth- 
ing their families, to educate their children ; 
in 7nany cases to furnish their houses, and 
in all to purchase their own horses. Thus, 
in deciding the sad alternative between the 
disgrace of retiring from the ministerial 
ranks, and the disgrace of being in debt^ 
they chose the former. Sir, it is not so much 
the actual pressure of want as the appre- 
hension of want^ if not for himself at least 
for his helpless widow and fatherless children, 
which drives many a Methodist minister into 
location. 

Now, sir, I ask, shall these things be? 
Shall w^e, at this memorable epoch, the hun- 
dredth year of Methodism, suffer the "great 
wheel" to be clogged a moment longer ? Can 
we offer to God, his church, or the w^orld, a 



BY THE REV. G. G. COOKMAN. 139 

more acceptable centenary gift than by con- 
tributing to the creation of a permanent fund 
which shall free the itinerancy of all anxiety 
for the present, all apprehension for the 
future ; a fund which shall provide for the 
education of the preachers' children in the 
estabhshment of manual labour, Kingswood, 
and Woodhouse Grove schools, and which 
shall spread the missionary flame to the very 
ends of the earth. 

Here, then, let us raise our Ebenezer; here 
let us build our centenary monument of gra- 
titude, in the sight of heaven, to be admired 
by generations yet unborn. Let its base be 
itinerancy^ and on that broad, deep pedestal, 
let us inscribe the words of Wesley, " The 
best of all is, God is with usP Let its 
columns be ediication, let their architecture 
be classically chaste, and on its lofty sum- 
mit rekindle the hallowed flame of mission- 
ary zeal, which, as a beacon light, flashing 
its bright beams across the deep dark sea of 
this apostate and tempestuous world, may 
guide many a forlorn wanderer safe home to 
the land of rest and peace. 

T&E END. 



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